US Stock Analysis and Korea Market Daily Briefing
Rising international crude oil prices and uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations weighed on the US stock market in the previous session. For the domestic market, investors need to monitor semiconductor stock trends, foreign supply and demand, and interest rate and oil price volatility all at once.
US Stock Analysis and Korea Market Daily Briefing — 2026-08-18
Previous US Stock Market Summary
- Major Three Indices Decline: Major US stock indices fell due to rising international crude oil prices and diminished expectations for a successful negotiation between the US and Iran. Market concerns were raised that a swift agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz is unlikely.
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- Oil Prices and Inflation Pressure: Analyses indicated that rising oil prices fueled inflation worries, causing both stocks and bonds to weaken together. Lowered expectations for US-Iran negotiations also heightened risk-off sentiment.
- Semiconductors and Select Cyclicals Show Relative Strength: Memory-related stocks performed well in the market, and AI optimism reportedly supported the Nasdaq. Share price gains for Intel, Texas Instruments, Caterpillar, and Micron were also noted.
- Economic Indicators: Local market analysis showed that the August New York Empire State Manufacturing Index came in at 20.6, beating the expected 10.0.
Key Themes and Issues in the Korean Stock Market
1. Large-Cap Semiconductors — Check Supply and Demand for Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix
Recently, the recovery of semiconductor stocks and the return of foreign investors drove the index rebound in the domestic market, but the KOSPI fell for the first time in six trading sessions on August 18. According to reports, the KOSPI dropped 1.55%, with Samsung Electronics turning downward and SK Hynix posting only a minor gain.
2. Oil and Interest Rate-Sensitive Stocks — Risk Management Needed
The rebound in international crude oil prices and US interest rates emerged as macroeconomic burdens for the domestic stock market. According to the same reports, the KOSDAQ plunged 3.52%, calling for a conservative approach toward growth stocks and high-volatility issues.
3. Foreign Supply and Demand — Check Continuation of Semiconductor-Centric Buying
Reports showed that the proportion of foreign stock trading in the domestic market rose from 35.63% in May, 36.82% in June, to 39.08% in July, and 39.62% between August 3 and 14. With individual investors reportedly selling 7 trillion won last week, it is necessary to check the impact of foreign supply and demand on semiconductor stocks and the KOSPI's direction.
Recommended Stocks to Watch Today
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Samsung Electronics: Cited as a large-cap semiconductor stock that recently led the domestic market rebound, but turned lower on August 18. This is a stock to watch simultaneously for semiconductor supply-demand recovery expectations and short-term profit-taking pressure.
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SK Hynix: Mentioned as a central stock in the recovery of semiconductor stocks and the return of foreign investors, posting a slight gain on August 18. It is necessary to check whether the strength of US memory stocks carries over to investor sentiment for domestic memory stocks.
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Micron: Mentioned as a gaining stock in the previous US market alongside outperformance in memory stocks. This is an overseas comparable stock to check for synchronization with domestic large-cap semiconductor stocks.
- Important: This briefing is for reference only, and the responsibility for investment decisions rests entirely 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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