Hynix Semiconductor has agreed to an equity swap with U.S. chipmaker Micron Technology. Reports say a final deal is expected in the first half of next year. The Korea Economic Daily said Hynix will exchange a 15-to-20 percent stake for a certain amount of stocks in Micron under a strategic alliance. The reports said the two chipmakers will fine-tune details within a week or two. On Monday, Micron and Hynix, the world's second and third-ranked memory chipmakers, announced plans for a strategic alliance. A merger would create the world's largest memory chip maker topping Samsung Electronics.