3 iShares ETFs to buy now as South Korea and Taiwan soar past 100% gains in 2026
Complete. Here is the key summaryDriven by surging demand for advanced semiconductors, South Korean and Taiwanese equities have rallied significantly in 2026. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) is up 103% year-to-date, while the iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT) has gained 67%. Both funds offer concentrated exposure to key players like Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC. Additionally, the broader iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA), which includes these regions but offers wider diversification, has returned 43%, providing investors with varying levels of risk and sector concentration.
Quick ReadEWY and EWT are up 103% and 67% YTD as South Korea's memory chips and Taiwan's TSMC foundry dominate AI hardware demand.Taiwan's IC industry is forecast to hit $271 billion in 2026, a 30% increase driven by AI accelerator capital spending.AIA spreads chip-nation exposure across 50 Asia ex-Japan companies with 40%-plus semiconductor weight...