오늘의 증시 전략: Stocks to Watch Guide — 2026-04-23
On April 22 (Wed), the KOSPI broke through the 6,400 mark, hitting record highs for two consecutive days before cooling off due to uncertainty surrounding the second round of U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks and profit-taking. The domestic rally was fueled by the S&P 500 and Nasdaq hitting record highs after the Trump administration announced an extension to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Key events to watch today (April 23) include the Q1 2026 earnings report from SK Hynix and the labor union mobilization at Samsung Electronics.
오늘의 증시 전략: Stocks to Watch Guide — 2026-04-23
Market Snapshot
- KOSPI: Trading flat after breaking 6,400 (as of April 22, slight cooling compared to the previous day).
- KOSDAQ: Slight increase (please check your trading platform for official closing figures).
- Supply & Demand: Foreign and institutional net buying exceeded 2 trillion won (as of April 21); some profit-taking occurred on April 22 due to U.S.-Iran negotiation uncertainties.
- Exchange Rates/Government Bonds: Check real-time data for the latest figures.
- Trading Volume: Please refer to Naver Finance for detailed transaction data.
Global Context — Overnight U.S. Markets
- S&P 500 & Nasdaq Record Highs: On April 22 (local time), the indices hit all-time highs following the Trump administration's announcement of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire extension.
- Oil Volatility: While the extension eased concerns over supply disruptions, volatility for WTI and other raw materials persists due to lingering tensions over the Strait of Hormuz. After the U.S. market close, futures faced downward pressure following a warning on Tesla's earnings.
- Semiconductor/AI Optimism: Global investment banks are raising their target indices for the KOSPI, anticipating a sustained semiconductor-led rally as the index recovers to pre-war levels.
Leading Sectors & Themes
1st Priority — Semiconductors (HBM & AI Server Memory)
- Trend: The core engine behind the KOSPI rally. SK Hynix reached an all-time high, leading the market.
- Leading Stocks: SK Hynix (000660), Samsung Electronics (005930), and related memory/packaging stocks.
- SK Hynix: Record high on April 22, Q1 2026 earnings release imminent (April 23).
- Samsung Electronics: BNK Securities raised its target price to 250,000 won (March); Q1 2026 operating profit estimated at 36 trillion won.
- Checkpoints: Robust HBM4 demand, steady server DRAM demand, and strong results from Micron as a leading indicator. High expectations for SK Hynix to post record quarterly earnings.
2nd Priority — Middle East/Geopolitical Plays (Defense, Energy, Shipping)
- Trend: Risk eased due to the U.S.-Iran ceasefire; defense stocks saw short-term adjustments, and energy volatility smoothed out.
- Leading Stocks: Hanwha Aerospace, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (defense/shipbuilding), and energy infrastructure ETFs.
- Checkpoints: Direction for defense stocks depends on the second round of ceasefire negotiations. The key variable is whether the Hormuz Strait issue is fully resolved.
3rd Priority — AI/Data Center Infrastructure (Power, Cooling, Materials)
- Trend: Expectations for benefits from domestic power, cooling, and material supply chains following global AI demand, moving in sync with the semiconductor rally.
- Leading Stocks: Power infrastructure stocks (e.g., LS ELECTRIC) and AI server materials/components.
- Checkpoints: Whether Big Tech maintains AI investment levels and updates on SK Hynix HBM4 supply contracts.
Stocks to Watch Guide
This guide provides reference price ranges based on brokerage reports and public filings. Investment decisions are the sole responsibility of the investor.
SK Hynix (000660)
- Status: Recorded an all-time high on April 22 (please check Naver Finance for the exact closing price).
- Supply & Demand: Foreign and institutional net buying continues.
- Fundamental Trigger: Q1 2026 earnings release on April 23 (Thu) — expected to break the record for quarterly operating profit. Estimates stand around 31 trillion won.
- Target Price/Support/Resistance: Multiple brokers set targets above 1 million won (as of early 2026). Current highs represent the top of the 52-week trading range.
- Risks: ① Concerns over slowing IT demand if U.S.-Iran negotiations break down ② "Sell on the news" profit-taking after the earnings release.
- Response Scenario: If earnings exceed expectations, watch for support at the 6,400p KOSPI level. If the guidance is disappointing, watch for a break below short-term support levels.
Samsung Electronics (005930)
- Status: Moving in tandem with the KOSPI record-high rally (check real-time price).
- Supply & Demand: Foreign and institutional buying; watch for volatility surrounding the union mobilization event.
- Fundamental Trigger: Q1 2026 operating profit market consensus at 36 trillion won. BNK Securities raised its target to 250,000 won in March. The labor union mobilization on April 23 is a short-term noise factor.
- Target Price: 250,000 won (BNK Securities, March 2026).
- Risks: ① Production disruption fears due to union activity ② Potential relative weakness compared to SK Hynix in the HBM race.
- Response Scenario: If SK Hynix reports strong earnings, monitor for a sympathy rise in Samsung; check the buy position before the union issue surfaces.
KOSPI-linked ETFs / Large Blue-Chip Basket
- Status: Trading flat after hitting 6,400.
- Supply & Demand: Foreigners bought over 2 trillion won (April 21); market cooled on April 22 due to uncertainty.
- Fundamental Trigger: Global IB revisions, U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and semiconductor earnings cycles.
- Risks: ① Geopolitical risk resurgence if negotiations fail ② U.S. futures decline due to Big Tech earnings warnings.
- Response Scenario: If 6,400p support holds, additional buying in semiconductors is valid. If it breaks, consider reducing exposure as the market enters a short-term correction.
Events to Watch
- 2026-04-23 (Thu): SK Hynix (000660) Q1 2026 Earnings — Watch for record operating profit (31 trillion won range) and Q2 2026 guidance.
- 2026-04-23 (Thu): Samsung Electronics Labor Union Mobilization — Monitor for production impacts and market reaction.
- After 2026-04-23 (Thu): U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Negotiations (Round 2) — Direct impact on geopolitical risk premiums.
- 2026-04-23~24: U.S. Big Tech Earnings Season — Following Tesla’s warnings, subsequent tech results will dictate global risk-on/off sentiment.
Strategic Memo
If SK Hynix's Q1 2026 earnings beat consensus, expect the 6,400p KOSPI support to hold, fueling a semiconductor-led risk-on rally. Conversely, if U.S. futures decline due to Tesla and U.S.-Iran talks falter, maintaining a conservative position is rational. Use the 6,400p mark as your primary exit/re-entry boundary and focus on semiconductor and AI infrastructure sectors.
This summary compiles publicly available news, filings, and brokerage reports. It does not constitute financial advice; all trading decisions are the responsibility of the investor.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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