Global & Korea Equity Market Intelligence — 2026-04-26

Market Snapshot — By the Numbers

⚠️ For exact figures, please check Yahoo Finance directly. Some data may be incomplete due to screenshot-based extraction.

Korea Market Deep Dive

KOSPI

• Close: 6,475.81 (+0%, flat finish) — consolidation after three consecutive all-time highs
• Foreign & Institution Flow: Foreign investors recorded net selling exceeding 2.1 trillion won, with investors on the sidelines amid US-Iran uncertainty
• Background: On April 23, KOSPI hit 6,475.81 for three straight record closes, but pulled back on April 24 as massive foreign selling pushed it into flat territory

KOSDAQ

• Close: Breaks through 1,200 line — first time since 2000, spanning 25 years
• Leadership: Driven by small-cap growth stocks in materials and IT sectors
• Background: Some profit-taking flows from KOSPI are moving into KOSDAQ

2 sources

koreatimes.co.kr

koreatimes.co.kr

koreatimes.co.kr

koreatimes.co.kr

Top Movers (Korea)

Gainers

• SK Hynix (000660) (sustained strength over recent days): Following record Q1 operating profit announcement, Nomura raises price target to 2.34 million won (+91.5% upside). Major global brokerages uniformly issue 2 million won-range targets
• Samsung Electronics (005930) (+3.22%, as of 4/23): Riding earnings momentum to hit 52-week record high — leading the KOSPI rally alongside SK Hynix
• KOSDAQ Growth Stocks Overall: Small-cap leaders in materials and IT drive KOSDAQ's first 1,200 break in 25 years

Losers

• KOSDAQ ETFs (KODEX KOSDAQ150 etc.) (net selling pressure): Retail investors dumped 231.1 billion won of KOSDAQ150 ETFs last week, instead rotating into KOSPI200 ETFs
• Semiconductor Inverse ETFs (bearish bets): Retail investors positioned 317 billion won (approximately 230 million USD) in semiconductor inverse ETFs, signaling short-term profit-taking pressure
• Foreign Net-Selling Stocks: Over 2.1 trillion won in foreign net selling creates near-term downside pressure across large-caps

Sector Flows

• Semiconductors: Strong. Samsung Electronics (+3.22%, 4/23) and SK Hynix near all-time highs. SK Hynix posted record quarterly operating profit, with Nomura and domestic brokerages raising targets into the 2 million won range. AI memory demand is the core driver. Intel's earnings surprise provides positive signals across the global semiconductor chain

• Batteries & EV: Limited recent data — individual stock tracking needed. Relative underperformance versus semiconductor rally. LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI require separate foreign selling impact checks

• Biotech & Healthcare: Likely experiencing sympathy gains within KOSDAQ growth stocks that drove the 1,200 break. Celltrion and Samsung Biologics among large-cap biotech require separate confirmation

• ETF Sector Rotation: Retail investors shifting capital from KOSDAQ leveraged ETFs to KOSPI200 ETFs — clear preference for large-caps and blue chips

Global Drivers Behind Today's Tape

• Intel (INTC) Earnings Surprise: Intel's earnings beat sparked broad semiconductor sector buying, lifting Nasdaq and S&P 500 to record highs. Strong positive ripple across the tech and semiconductor chain

• US-Iran Peace Talks Anticipation: Expectations of easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz reduced international oil prices and eased safe-haven demand. S&P 500 and Nasdaq finished the week with four consecutive weeks of gains

• DOJ Ends Investigation into Fed Chair Powell: US Justice Department halt to Jerome Powell probe alleviates Fed independence concerns, benefiting both bond and equity markets

• Street's Weekly Take: Charles Schwab noted that "most major indices, including Nasdaq and S&P 500, hit record highs this week, with semiconductor earnings driving investor demand." Dow relatively lagged

• SK Hynix Price Target Upgrades Across the Board: Nomura raises target to 2.34 million won (+91.5% upside); global brokerages uniformly issue 2 million won-range targets. Global capital inflows expected into Korean semiconductor sector

Asia Read-Through

With S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching all-time highs on the back of Intel earnings and US-Iran peace talk hopes, Monday's Asia session is poised for a broadly positive open. However, Korea's market hinges on whether foreign investors return to buy at lower levels after dumping 2.1 trillion won last week. USD/KRW exchange rate moves and real-time US-Iran deal updates will be critical variables, with KOSPI's attempt to reclaim the 6,500 level as Monday's key watch point.

What to Watch Next

• Economic Data: US-Iran deal updates (weekend through Monday), Korea April export preliminaries (early May), US PCE inflation and Fed-related indicators
• Earnings Calendar: Samsung Electronics detailed earnings release schedule, ongoing global big-tech earnings (watch Microsoft, Alphabet)
• Technical Levels: KOSPI 6,500 line recapture (primary resistance), KOSDAQ 1,200 line consolidation (support test)
• Macro Watchpoints: USD/KRW direction, WTI crude (linked to US-Iran talks), US 10-year Treasury yield, SK Hynix ADR movement

Reader Action Items

• Korean Retail Investors: Retail dumped 231.1 billion won of KOSDAQ150 ETFs and rotated into KOSPI200, a defensive signal amid rising short-term volatility awareness. The 317 billion won bet on semiconductor inverse ETFs also merits attention — a contrarian gauge of elevated caution and potential overheating concerns

• Global Investors with Korea Exposure: SK Hynix's across-the-board price target upgrades (Nomura 2.34 million won, +91.5% upside) provide fresh entry rationale. Post-selloff valuations warrant reassessment, especially considering KRW hedging impacts on returns

• Contrarian View: KOSDAQ broke 1,200 for the first time in 25 years, yet retail is selling KOSDAQ ETFs. Consensus buys large-cap semiconductor plays, but semiconductor-driven enthusiasm reaching college admissions (record KOSDAQ cutlines at Yonsei and Korea University semiconductor contract programs) signals how deep this cycle has penetrated society — timing the peak matters