KOSPI

Korean Retail Investors Flock to Leveraged ETFs Ahead of Single-Stock Launch

Korean retail investors are flocking to leveraged ETFs ahead of single-stock product launches on November 27, with 74,315 completing pre-trading education and net purchases of double-leverage products surging.

Margin Calls Triple as KOSPI Plunges 10% in Two Sessions

KOSPI plunged 3.25% to 7,271.66 on Wednesday, down nearly 10% in two sessions. Forced liquidations hit 91.7 billion won as margin loan balances reach record 36.5675 trillion won.

Buybacks Outpace Disposals, Fueling KOSPI Re-Rating Hopes

Treasury stock cancellations in Korea hit 154 filings versus 111 disposals after the third Commercial Act amendment, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading multi-trillion-won buybacks.

Korea's Margin Debt Hits Record 36 Trillion Won, Regulator Warns

South Korea's margin debt hit a record 36.4 trillion won, up 33% from year-start, as the KOSPI plunged 3.25%. FSS chief Lee Chan-jin warns of leverage risks.

Koo Yun-cheol Declares "Korea Premium Era," Calls Now "Golden Time" for Investment

Korea's Deputy PM Koo Yun-cheol declared a "Korea Premium era" at a London IR event, citing a 170% KOSPI rise and 10.9 billion dollars in WGBI-related inflows.

Corporate Disclosures

Korean corporate disclosures on May 19 include Naver's clarification on Baemin acquisition rumors, Techwing's 9.7 billion won HBM contract with Samsung, and LG H&H's withdrawal from Torriden deal.

KOSPI Falls Below 7,300 as Foreigners Dump 42 Trillion Won Over 9 Sessions

KOSPI plunged 3.25% to 7,271.66 on Wednesday as foreign investors net sold 6.26 trillion won, extending a nine-session selling streak to a cumulative 42 trillion won.

KOSPI Closes Down 244.38 Points, or 3.25%, at 7,271.66

The KOSPI ended the session at 7,271.66, falling 244.38 points or 3.25% in a sharp decline for South Korea's benchmark stock index.

KOSPI Battles to Hold 7,300 as Samsung Eyes Flat Close

KOSPI fell 2.55% to 7,324.54 on Wednesday after an intraday 4% plunge, as foreign investors net sold 4.97 trillion won. Samsung Electronics pared losses on labor deal hopes.

KOSPI Q1 Operating Profit Triples on Chip Boom; 40% of KOSDAQ Firms in Red

KOSPI-listed firms' Q1 operating profit nearly tripled to 156 trillion won on a chip boom led by Samsung and SK hynix, while over 40% of KOSDAQ companies posted losses.

KOSPI Plunges 4% Below 7,200 as Foreigners Dump $2 Billion

KOSPI plunged 4.42% to 7,183.55 on Wednesday as foreign investors dumped over 2.9 trillion won, with Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and robotics-themed stocks leading the slide.

Today's Memo

Korea's stock market memo for May 20 covers KOSPI and KOSDAQ corporate actions including additional listings, par value changes, capital reductions, and Makinarocks' new listing.

Foreign Investors Dump 85 Trillion Won in Korean Stocks, Pile Into Holding Companies

Foreign investors sold nearly 85 trillion won of Korean stocks this year but net bought major holding companies including SK, Doosan, and Hanwha, citing growth potential and governance reform.

Koo Touts "Korea Premium Era" to Global Investors in London

Deputy PM Koo Yun-cheol pitched Korea to global investors in London, declaring a "Korea Premium era" backed by a 170% KOSPI rally and $10.9 billion in WGBI-related inflows.

Celltrion Calls Stock "Excessively Undervalued," Vows to Review Shareholder Value Measures

Celltrion said its stock is excessively undervalued and pledged to review shareholder value enhancement measures, citing record Q1 revenue and strong fundamentals despite a 9% drop this month.

KOSPI Opens Down 90.38 Points at 7,425.66

The KOSPI opened 90.38 points lower at 7,425.66, down 1.20% from the previous session.

KOSPI Slides as Foreign Investors Extend Net Selling to Nine Sessions

U.S. Markets Swing on Every Word as Iran Conflict Drags On

U.S. markets swing wildly on every Trump and Iran statement as the war drags on. Oil surges, mortgage rates climb, and the KOSPI faces growing volatility amid stalled ceasefire talks.

Chip Stocks Pause on Micron Slump; Power Equipment Rallies on AI Bottleneck

Korean chip stocks weakened on Micron's overnight slump and memory peak-out concerns, while power equipment stocks rallied on AI infrastructure bottleneck tailwinds in pre-market trading on the 19th.

Korean Investors Rush to RIA Accounts as 100% Tax Exemption Deadline Nears

Korea's Returning Investor Account (RIA) balance is approaching 2 trillion won, with 360 billion won flowing in within a week as the 100% capital gains tax exemption deadline nears at month-end.

Hana Securities Warns SK hynix Overtaking Samsung Could Signal Bubble

Hana Securities warned that SK hynix overtaking Samsung Electronics in market cap could signal a bubble, while raising its KOSPI target to 10,380 points.

Korea's Stock Market Rally Fuels Luxury Spending Boom

Korea's KOSPI rally near 8,000 is fueling a luxury spending boom, with department store luxury sales up nearly 40% and Tesla's high-end car registrations surging tenfold.

Korea Treasury Yields Surge on Inflation, Growth and Fiscal Expansion

South Korea's treasury bond yields are surging faster than in other major economies, with the 30-year yield up 0.941 percentage points year-to-date amid inflation, semiconductor boom and fiscal expansion concerns.

Korea's Treasury Bond Yields Post World's Largest Surge Amid Chip Boom Paradox

Korea's 10-year treasury yield surged 0.853 percentage points to 4.239%, leading global increases, as semiconductor boom growth expectations and fiscal concerns pressure the bond market.