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Market wrap · Monday, October 19, 2026

KOSPI rebounds 1.8% from 3% early plunge as battery stocks surge on Chinese ESS exit reports

KOSPI+1.8%KOSDAQ+1.8%KOSPI 200+1.5%

The KOSPI reversed a drop of more than 3% at the open to close up 1.8% at 5,768.01, finishing at its intraday high. Sources said bargain hunters stepped in after the index fell more than 14% the previous week, and that the move followed a Friday sell-off in AI stocks on Wall Street tied to CoreWeave credit concerns.

Batteries led the rebound. Reports said major Chinese energy storage makers are effectively withdrawing from US operations under tighter rules, tariffs and equity reviews, though which companies left was not confirmed. Samsung SDI closed up 11.7%, LG Energy Solution 7.2%, POSCO Future M 10.9% and Ecopro Materials 14.8%. Further out, materials names rose: Solus Advanced Materials gained 21.6% after raising battery foil prices by over 50% in the fourth quarter, Lotte Energy Materials 18.4% and SM Bexel 29.9%. Samsung Biologics also rose 9.9%.

Why the market moved

The KOSPI recovered from a 3% early plunge as bargain hunters returned after a 14% drop the prior week, with battery and biotech shares leading. The early drop followed a Friday sell-off in US AI stocks on CoreWeave credit concerns.123

Top themes

Energy storage and batteries

Chinese ESS makers reportedly exit US market123

Satellite battery

Hopes of satellite battery technology1

Biotech and CDMO

Bargain hunting lifted biotech rebound12

The big stories

Battery stocks surge as Chinese ESS makers reportedly exit US market

Reports said Chinese energy storage makers are effectively withdrawing from US operations under tighter rules, tariffs and equity reviews, though the companies that left were not confirmed. Samsung SDI closed up 11.7%, LG Energy Solution 7.2%, Solus Advanced Materials 21.57% and SM Bexel 29.9%.12345

Directly affected

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Further out

KOSPI recovers from 3% early plunge to close up 1.76% at 5,768

The KOSPI reversed a 3%-plus early drop to close at 5,768.01, after falling more than 14% the previous week. Samsung Biologics rose 9.94% and Celltrion 2.16%, while the won hit its strongest level since October 2024 near 1,330 per dollar.1234567

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Further out

AI bubble fears and CoreWeave credit concerns hit chip stocks

Chip stocks sold off on AI bubble worries and credit concerns over CoreWeave, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index extending its losing streak to eight sessions. Analysts said rising rates and delayed IPOs are squeezing funding for US AI infrastructure, and the KOSPI was hit harder by the CoreWeave shock.12345

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Samsung Electro-Mechanics wins ₩360.5B semiconductor substrate contract

Samsung Electro-Mechanics signed a ₩360.5B long-term supply contract for memory substrates with a big tech customer, bringing its year-to-date contracts to ₩4.3T. The stock closed down 1.52% on the day.123456

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Solus raises battery foil prices over 50% in Q4

Solus Advanced Materials raised its average selling price of battery foil by over 50% in the fourth quarter, with the company saying earnings would improve in earnest from 2027. The stock closed up 21.57%.123

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SK Hynix backs ₩2T financing for chip suppliers with government and banks

SK Hynix, the government and banks agreed a ₩2T guarantee and financing package for semiconductor materials and parts suppliers. SK Hynix closed up 0.39%.1234

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The market

The KOSPI rose 1.8% to 5,768.01, the KOSDAQ 1.8% to 808.89 and the KOSPI 200 1.5% to 891.3. Advancers numbered 1,863 against 673 decliners, with 225 unchanged. Trading value was about ₩25.0 trillion versus an average of about ₩29.1 trillion. The won strengthened to about 1,342.4 per dollar in the data, and a source reported it near 1,330 at the close, its strongest since October 2024. The KTB 3-year yield rose 2.3 basis points to 3.877% and the US 10-year 6.0 basis points to 5.15%. The S&P 500 rose 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 ETF 1.2% and the US chips ETF 1.7%, while the Nikkei 225 fell 0.6%. Brent rose 1.1% to $109.25 and gold fell 1.3%.

KOSPIDaily closes · shaded: this wrap5,768.01
6,0006,5007,000
Sep 4Sep 17Oct 2Oct 19
KOSDAQDaily closes · shaded: this wrap808.89
800850900
Sep 4Sep 17Oct 2Oct 19

1,863 stocks rose, 673 fell · trading value ₩25T

USD/KRW1,342.4−0.5%
KTB 3y3.88+2bp
UST 10y5.15+6bp
S&P 5007,690.73+0.4%
Nasdaq 100 (QQQ ETF)+1.2%
US chips (SOXX ETF)+1.7%
Nikkei 22564,916.7−0.6%
Brent oil109.25+1.1%
Gold4,152−1.3%
Copper (CPER ETF)+0.2%

Themes investors follow

EV batteries rose 6.7% on average, energy storage 5.7%, battery materials 5.5% and lithium and rare metals 5.4%. ADC and cancer drugs gained 4.4%, led by Samsung Biologics, Yuhan at 8.7% and ABL Bio at 7.6%. K-defense rose 3.4%, with Huneed Technologies up 17.1% and Nara Space Technology up 14.3%; no clear reason was reported. Solar and wind rose 3.4% and hydrogen 3.1%. Robots rose 2.9%, data centers 2.2% and power grid 2.3%. Chip testing and packaging fell 0.9% and HBM and AI chips 0.7%, with Nepes down 4.8% and Fadu down 4.2%.

Popular themes

Best themes

Worst themes

  • Chip testing & packaging−0.9%Welkeeps Hitech −13.3% · TSE −5.9% · Semcns −5.7%
  • HBM & AI chips−0.7%Nepes −4.8% · DI −4.3% · Fadu −4.2%
  • Education & edtech+0.1%Ubion −4.9% · Daekyo −2.4% · Day1 −1.7%
  • K-drama & film+0.2%KidariStudio −15.1% · Barunson Entertainment & Arts −8.0% · Panentertainmentco −3.1%
  • Pet care+0.2%Kbio Labs −1.4% · Harim Holdings −0.8% · Hyundai Feed 0.0%
  • REITs+0.3%Shinhan Global Active REIT −3.4% · Mastern Premier Reit 1 −2.0% · Igis Value Plus Reit −0.9%

The biggest companies

Samsung Electronics rose 1.2% and SK hynix 0.4%, both below the index. SK Hynix agreed a ₩2 trillion guarantee and financing package for suppliers with the government and banks. SK Square fell 0.5%. LG Energy Solution rose 7.2% on the ESS reports. Samsung Electro-Mechanics fell 1.5% despite a ₩360.5 billion substrate supply contract with a big tech customer. Hyundai Motor rose 4.5% and KIA 5.3%, with no clear reason reported. Samsung Biologics rose 9.9%, Samsung SDI 11.7%, KB Financial 1.7%, Samsung Life 2.5%, Hanwha Aerospace 1.9%, Celltrion 2.2%, Samsung C&T fell 0.5% and Shinhan Financial 0.1%.

Who was buying and selling

On the KOSPI, foreign investors were net buyers of about ₩96.2 billion, while on the KOSDAQ they sold about ₩159.8 billion. Foreigners bought Samsung Electronics (about ₩271.1 billion), Samsung SDI (₩111.6 billion) and SK Square, and sold SK hynix (₩172.9 billion), Samsung Electronics Pref. and LG Energy Solution. Institutions bought Hanwha Ocean (about ₩504.9 billion, stock down 1.2%), LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI, and sold SK hynix and Samsung Electro-Mechanics. Retail bought Samsung Electronics Pref. and Samsung Electro-Mechanics and sold Samsung SDI (₩230.5 billion), Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Pensions bought Samsung Biologics (₩77.0 billion) and LG Energy Solution.

Foreign investors

Net bought

  1. 1Samsung Electronics+₩271B+1.2%
  2. 2Samsung SDI+₩112B+11.7%
  3. 3SK Square+₩43B−0.5%
  4. 4Doosan+₩35B+4.6%
  5. 5Samsung Electro-Mechanics+₩31B−1.5%
  6. 6Yuhan+₩21B+8.7%
  7. 7Ecopro+₩19B+11.2%
  8. 8Korean Air Lines+₩18B+2.9%
  9. 9POSCO Future M+₩16B+10.9%
  10. 10LS Electric+₩13B+3.8%
  11. 11SK Innovation+₩13B+7.2%
  12. 12APR+₩11B+1.8%
  13. 13Sanil Electric+₩11B+3.8%
  14. 14Hyundai Engineering & Construction+₩11B+1.2%
  15. 15L&F+₩10B+7.3%

Net sold

  1. 1SK hynix−₩173B+0.4%
  2. 2Samsung Electronics Pref.−₩99B+2.2%
  3. 3LG Energy Solution−₩60B+7.2%
  4. 4Samyang Foods−₩25B+1.7%
  5. 5Samsung Biologics−₩23B+9.9%
  6. 6Jusung Engineering−₩21B−0.5%
  7. 7Hanmi Semiconductor−₩21B+1.0%
  8. 8HPSP−₩20B−2.8%
  9. 9Hyundai Mobis−₩20B+3.7%
  10. 10Woori Financial Group−₩20B+1.0%
  11. 11Hana Micron−₩17B−3.4%
  12. 12Shinhan Financial Group−₩16B−0.1%
  13. 13KB Financial Group−₩15B+1.7%
  14. 14Hanwha Aerospace−₩13B+1.9%
  15. 15Fadu−₩13B−4.2%

Institutions

Net bought

  1. 1Hanwha Ocean+₩505B−1.2%
  2. 2LG Energy Solution+₩132B+7.2%
  3. 3Samsung SDI+₩116B+11.7%
  4. 4Samsung Biologics+₩101B+9.9%
  5. 5Samsung Electronics Pref.+₩47B+2.2%
  6. 6Hyundai Motor+₩41B+4.5%
  7. 7Celltrion+₩37B+2.2%
  8. 8KIA+₩35B+5.3%
  9. 9Samyang Foods+₩32B+1.7%
  10. 10HYBE+₩31B+6.6%
  11. 11POSCO Holdings+₩28B+6.1%
  12. 12Hyundai Mobis+₩28B+3.7%
  13. 13SK Innovation+₩27B+7.2%
  14. 14Yuhan+₩24B+8.7%
  15. 15POSCO Future M+₩19B+10.9%

Net sold

  1. 1SK hynix−₩251B+0.4%
  2. 2Samsung Electro-Mechanics−₩77B−1.5%
  3. 3SK Square−₩73B−0.5%
  4. 4Doosan−₩32B+4.6%
  5. 5HD Hyundai Heavy Industries−₩18B−1.7%
  6. 6Samsung Electronics−₩15B+1.2%
  7. 7Simmtech−₩13B+0.1%
  8. 8Tesco−₩12B−2.8%
  9. 9Isupetasys−₩11B−0.8%
  10. 10Hanmi Pharm−₩10B−2.0%
  11. 11DB HiTek−₩10B−1.2%
  12. 12Hyundai Engineering & Construction−₩9.5B+1.2%
  13. 13Korean Air Lines−₩8.7B+2.9%
  14. 14Iljin Electric−₩8.2B0.0%
  15. 15LG Electronics−₩6.9B+0.5%

Retail investors

Net bought

  1. 1Samsung Electronics Pref.+₩46B+2.2%
  2. 2Samsung Electro-Mechanics+₩43B−1.5%
  3. 3SK Square+₩31B−0.5%
  4. 4Jusung Engineering+₩26B−0.5%
  5. 5HPSP+₩16B−2.8%
  6. 6LG Electronics+₩16B+0.5%
  7. 7Hana Micron+₩15B−3.4%
  8. 8Hanmi Semiconductor+₩14B+1.0%
  9. 9Fadu+₩12B−4.2%
  10. 10Simmtech+₩11B+0.1%
  11. 11L&C Bio+₩11B−4.7%
  12. 12Jeju Semiconductor+₩9.6B+0.7%
  13. 13TSE+₩9.5B−5.9%
  14. 14HD Hyundai Heavy Industries+₩8.9B−1.7%
  15. 15Isupetasys+₩8.1B−0.8%

Net sold

  1. 1Samsung SDI−₩230B+11.7%
  2. 2Samsung Electronics−₩187B+1.2%
  3. 3SK hynix−₩187B+0.4%
  4. 4HMM−₩84B+2.1%
  5. 5Samsung Biologics−₩77B+9.9%
  6. 6LG Energy Solution−₩71B+7.2%
  7. 7Yuhan−₩45B+8.7%
  8. 8POSCO Future M−₩35B+10.9%
  9. 9SK Innovation−₩34B+7.2%
  10. 10Ecopro−₩32B+11.2%
  11. 11Hyundai Motor−₩31B+4.5%
  12. 12POSCO Holdings−₩29B+6.1%
  13. 13Celltrion−₩28B+2.2%
  14. 14KIA−₩28B+5.3%
  15. 15HYBE−₩26B+6.6%

Pension funds

Net bought

  1. 1Samsung Biologics+₩77B+9.9%
  2. 2LG Energy Solution+₩70B+7.2%
  3. 3Samsung SDI+₩29B+11.7%
  4. 4Hyundai Motor+₩21B+4.5%
  5. 5Samsung Life Insurance+₩21B+2.5%
  6. 6Celltrion+₩20B+2.2%
  7. 7KIA+₩19B+5.3%
  8. 8Yuhan+₩18B+8.7%
  9. 9NAVER+₩16B+1.6%
  10. 10Woori Financial Group+₩15B+1.0%
  11. 11HYBE+₩14B+6.6%
  12. 12Samyang Foods+₩12B+1.7%
  13. 13HMM+₩10B+2.1%
  14. 14Hyundai Mobis+₩9.6B+3.7%
  15. 15POSCO Holdings+₩9.5B+6.1%

Net sold

  1. 1Samsung Electro-Mechanics−₩66B−1.5%
  2. 2SK Square−₩38B−0.5%
  3. 3SK hynix−₩35B+0.4%
  4. 4HD Hyundai Heavy Industries−₩24B−1.7%
  5. 5Doosan−₩19B+4.6%
  6. 6Samsung Electronics Pref.−₩18B+2.2%
  7. 7Simmtech−₩13B+0.1%
  8. 8LG Innotek−₩7.4B+3.8%
  9. 9DB HiTek−₩6.9B−1.2%
  10. 10Isupetasys−₩6.9B−0.8%
  11. 11S-Oil−₩6.2B+1.6%
  12. 12PSK Holdings−₩5.7B−2.9%
  13. 13Hanmi Pharm−₩5B−2.0%
  14. 14LG Electronics−₩5B+0.5%
  15. 15Daeduck Electronics−₩4.7B+1.6%

ETFs

Battery ETFs dominated the top: KODEX Solid-State Battery ESS TOP2 Plus rose 9.4%, SOL All-Solid-State Battery & Silicon Anode 9.3% and TIGER Secondary Battery Materials Fn 9.1%. SOL Space Aerospace Value Chain rose 7.2%. The weakest were overseas AI and space funds: ACE MSCI Indonesia (Synthetic) fell 7.8%, TIGER US AI Data Center TOP4 Plus 5.7% and TIGER Global AI Cybersecurity 5.4%.

Best ETFs

Worst ETFs

Leveraged and inverse ETFs are left out; moves are the daily moves compounded.

How our signals did

No Squeeze! setups were open and no pair trades were flagged. Of 40 technical events since September 19, 13 worked. SK Square's 200-day loss and Shinhan Financial's breakdown worked, while Ecopro's breakout was down 22.0%. Short squeeze scores were highest for Meritz Financial Group at 60, KMW at 58 and ISU Specialty Chemical at 55.

Notable technical signals

40 notable signals: 13 moved the way they pointed so far.

Highest short squeeze scores

Signals since Sep 19. Signals describe past prices. Results run from the signal to the latest close; they are not recommendations.

Written by AI from JONBUR's data and checked against those figures. Reasons come only from the linked news, filings and broker reports for that day; when none gives a reason, we say so. Index moves marked est. are our estimate from closing prices until the official index is available. Not financial advice.

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