U.S. Market Analysis & Korea Daily Briefing — 2026-07-25
Here’s a quick breakdown to help with your investment strategy in the Korean market today. **On July 23, the U.S. market saw a sharp decline due to concerns over surging AI infrastructure spending by big tech and a spike in oil prices caused by Middle East tensions. Conversely, the Korean market saw the KOSPI jump 4.4% to reclaim the 7,000 level, driven by recovering global semiconductor demand and strong foreign buying. Keep an eye on whether oil prices stabilize and if the semiconductor rally continues today.**
U.S. Market Analysis & Korea Daily Briefing — 2026-07-25
Summary of Yesterday’s U.S. Market
1. Key Indices Drop and Causes The U.S. market took a hit on July 23. The Nasdaq fell over 2%, and the Dow Jones dropped more than 600 points. Alphabet (Google) and Tesla led the downturn. Tesla shares fell more than 15%, while Alphabet also saw a significant drop following their earnings report due to concerns over expanded AI infrastructure spending.
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2. Impact of Surging Oil Prices Brent crude surpassed $100 per barrel, primarily driven by supply concerns due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. This spike in oil prices has fueled inflation fears and pushed the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield to its highest level of the year.
3. Sector Trends The decline was most prominent in tech stocks, with a broad sell-off across AI-related shares. The aggressive announcement of CAPEX expansion by big tech firms triggered investor anxiety.
Key Themes and Issues in the Korean Market
1. Semiconductor Sentiment Recovery (KOSPI up 4.4%, reclaiming 7,000) The domestic market saw strong performance in the electrical and electronics sectors on July 23. The KOSPI closed at 7,096.89, up 299.19 points (4.40%) from the previous day, marking a three-day winning streak. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the market, each rising by 3–4%. Announcements of expanded AI infrastructure spending by global big tech firms sparked expectations for increased semiconductor demand, drawing in strong foreign net buying (approximately 2.1 trillion KRW).
2. Foreign Net Buying and KRW/USD Exchange Rate Stability Strong buying from foreign investors (2.1 trillion KRW) fueled the KOSPI's rise. The KRW/USD exchange rate stabilized around the 1,470 range, increasing the appeal of export-oriented stocks. A stronger Won has boosted expectations for improved performance among Korean exporters.
3. Growing Preference for IT Hardware and Electronics Semiconductors, IT hardware, securities, shipbuilding, cosmetics, retail, and gaming are currently the preferred sectors in the July domestic market. It is recommended to maintain a strategy focused on large-cap leaders while expanding into sectors that have seen excessive short-term drops or those benefiting from policy expectations.
Recommended Stocks to Watch Today
1. Samsung Electronics (Electronics & Information Device Manufacturing)
- Reason for recommendation: Expected performance improvement due to rising global semiconductor demand. Strong foreign buying continued after a 3% gain on July 23. Memory semiconductor prices are expected to recover as AI infrastructure investment grows.
2. SK Hynix (Semiconductor Manufacturing)
- Reason for recommendation: A leading domestic semiconductor firm that directly benefits from the growing global demand for AI chips. Rose 4% on July 23. Price competitiveness is improving due to the stronger Won.
3. IT Hardware / Semiconductor Equipment-Related Stocks
- Reason for recommendation: Alphabet (Google) announced that its Google Cloud revenue in Q2 2026 grew by 82% year-over-year and that it is significantly increasing its AI infrastructure investment. This signals a surge in demand for semiconductor and related equipment manufacturers, pointing toward expanded export opportunities for the Korean semiconductor industry.
- Important: This briefing is for reference purposes only; responsibility for investment decisions lies with 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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