Market wrap · Monday, October 26, 2026
KOSPI falls 1.5% to 5,469.5, a 7-month low; KOSDAQ drops 3.3% as Lunit and Robotis rally against the tide
KOSPI−1.5%KOSDAQ−3.3%KOSPI 200−1.3%KOSPI closed down 1.5% at 5,469.5, its lowest close since April 6, and KOSDAQ fell 3.3% to 727.2. Sources cite Middle East tensions, oil at a six-month high, large foreign selling and caution ahead of chip earnings and the Fed decision. Reports that the US and Israel were weighing renewed strikes on Iran fed the oil move. Defense names sold off: Hanwha Aerospace fell 4.0% and LIG Defense&Aerospace 9.8%. Energy-linked shipbuilders also fell, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries down 5.1% and Hanwha Ocean down 4.2%.
Against that, a few company stories stood out. Lunit rose 30% to its limit-up after an AI biomarker research agreement with Summit Therapeutics for ivonescimab, and NH Investment & Securities said its value could be re-rated. That lifted Vuno, which also rose about 30%. The AI healthcare theme averaged +4.8%. Robotis rose 9.6% on an actuator supply agreement for the Microduck robot. Fine M-Tec fell 15.7% on iPhone Duo screen damage reports, though it says its parts are unrelated.
Why the market moved
KOSPI fell on Middle East tensions, oil at a six-month high and heavy foreign selling, with caution ahead of chip earnings and the Fed decision.12345
Top themes
The big stories
KOSPI closes below 5,500 at 7-month low as Middle East tensions and foreign selling mount
KOSPI closed down 1.46% at 5,469.47, its lowest close since April 6, as foreign investors sold heavily and oil prices rose to a six-month high on Middle East tensions. KOSDAQ fell 3.26%, and Hanwha Aerospace closed down 4.04% amid a defense-sector sell-off.1234567
Directly affected
- K-defense−3.0%Hanwha Aerospace and LIG Nex1 sold off on geopolitical tensionsKIA −1.7%Hanwha Aerospace −4.0%HD Hyundai Heavy Industries −5.1%HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering −2.0%
Next in line
- Oil, refining & chemicals−2.5%Oil prices at a six-month high raise cost pressure on oil-dependent economyLG Energy Solution −2.1%SK Innovation −0.8%HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering −2.0%LG Chem −1.8%
Further out
- LNG & gas−2.6%Higher energy prices from Middle East tensionsDoosan Enerbility −3.0%HD Hyundai Heavy Industries −5.1%HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering −2.0%Hanwha Ocean −4.2%
- US tariffs & exports−2.1%Rising inflation and Fed tightening concerns weigh on the marketSamsung Electronics −1.2%SK hynix −0.2%LG Energy Solution −2.1%Hyundai Motor −2.5%
Lunit surges 30% limit-up on US Summit Therapeutics AI biomarker deal
Lunit closed up 30% after announcing an AI biomarker research agreement with Nasdaq-listed Summit Therapeutics for its ivonescimab cancer immunotherapy, and NH Investment & Securities said its value could be re-rated next year. Vuno, Contec and Bigwave Robotics also rose about 30%.123456
Directly affected
- AI healthcare+4.8%Lunit and Vuno rallied on medical AI deal and re-ratingLunit +30.0%InBody −3.0%Tomocube +4.2%Rokit Healthcare −4.4%
Next in line
- ADC & cancer drugs−2.4%AI biomarker work for the cancer drug ivonescimabSamsung Biologics −1.0%Alteogen −2.7%Yuhan −3.5%HLB −5.7%
- Biotech (new drugs)−1.8%Collaboration tied to new cancer drug developmentSamsung Biologics −1.0%Celltrion −2.3%Alteogen −2.7%Yuhan −3.5%
Robotis jumps 9.56% on Microduck actuator supply deal
Robotis closed up 9.56% after signing an actuator supply agreement for the Microduck robot, with the partner initially requesting supply for 50,000 robots and the company expecting demand of 1 million units next year. The Microduck has reportedly sold 10,000 units in three days.123456
Directly affected
- Robots & humanoids+0.2%Robotis actuators supplied for Microduck humanoid-style robotSamsung Electronics −1.2%Hyundai Motor −2.5%Samsung C&T +1.4%KIA −1.7%
Further out
- Machinery & heavy equipment−3.0%Actuator components supplied to robot makersDoosan Enerbility −3.0%HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering −2.0%Samsung Heavy Industries −3.2%Doosan −6.5%
Fine M-Tec plunges 15.7% over iPhone Duo screen damage reports
Fine M-Tec closed down 15.7% as reports of screen damage on Apple's iPhone Duo hit the Korean hinge-parts supplier, though the company says its supplied parts are unrelated to the quality issue. Apple has not officially acknowledged a product defect.1234567
Directly affected
- Smartphone parts−1.8%Hinge component supplier hit by iPhone Duo quality concernsSamsung Electronics −1.2%Samsung Electronics Pref. −2.2%Samsung Electro-Mechanics −0.4%Samsung SDI −1.4%
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix slip as special dividend reports are denied
Samsung Electronics closed down 1.16% and SK hynix down 0.16%, with SK hynix's special dividend report denied by the company, while investors await shareholder-return measures. Both stocks are watched ahead of their third-quarter earnings.123456
Directly affected
- HBM & AI chips−4.4%SK hynix and Samsung Electronics are the chip bellwethers moving the indexSamsung Electronics −1.2%SK hynix −0.2%Samsung Electronics Pref. −2.2%SK Square −0.8%
- Value-up (low P/B, shareholder returns)−1.9%Expectations for shareholder returns and special dividendsSK Square −0.8%Hyundai Motor −2.5%KB Financial Group −3.8%Samsung Life Insurance +0.6%
The market
KOSPI fell 1.5% to 5,469.5, KOSDAQ 3.3% to 727.2 and KOSPI 200 1.3% to 851.5. Decliners numbered 2,101 against 471 advancers. Trading value was about ₩17.8 trillion, below the recent average of about ₩27.4 trillion. Sources describe average trading value at a 2026 low. Overseas, the S&P 500 rose 0.7%, the Nasdaq 100 ETF 1.1% and the US chip ETF 2.9%, while the Nikkei 225 fell 0.4%. Brent was $115.2, down 0.3%. The won was at ₩1,324.3 per dollar, nearly flat. The 3-year KTB yield was 3.789%, down 1.4bp. The Fed meeting runs Oct. 27-28.
471 stocks rose, 2,101 fell · trading value ₩18T
Themes investors follow
Biggest gainers: AI healthcare +4.8% (Lunit, Vuno, Noul at or near +30%). Robotics was flat at +0.0%, with Bigwave Robotics +29.8%, Robotis +9.6% and Everybot +6.9%, while Doosan fell 6.5%. Cybersecurity fell 0.9% overall, but Sands Lab rose 8.7% after a US warning on a PHP vulnerability. Declines: chip testing and packaging -5.1%, lithium and rare metals -4.7%, HBM and AI chips -4.4%, hydrogen -3.8%, semiconductor equipment -3.7%, battery materials -3.6%, solar and wind -3.6%, K-defense -3.0%, shipbuilding -3.1%, nuclear -3.2%. Power grid fell 3.4%, led down by HD Hyundai Marine Solution (-13.7%, after Q3 earnings fell short of expectations).
Popular themes
- AI software & services−0.6%
- HBM & AI chips−4.4%
- On-device AI−2.0%
- Semiconductor equipment & materials−3.7%
- Robots & humanoids0.0%
- Data centers−2.8%
- Power grid & cables−3.4%
- AI power & transformers−2.8%
- Nuclear power & SMR−3.2%
- Solar & wind−3.6%
- Hydrogen−3.8%
- Energy storage (ESS)−3.4%
- EV batteries−3.2%
- K-defense−3.0%
- Shipbuilding−3.1%
- Space & aerospace−2.3%
- Biotech (new drugs)−2.0%
- Obesity drugs−3.5%
- K-beauty−2.0%
- K-pop & entertainment−2.3%
- Quantum technology−1.8%
- Value-up (low P/B, shareholder returns)−1.9%
Best themes
- AI healthcare+4.8%Lunit +30.0% · Vuno +30.0% · Noul +29.9%
- Robots & humanoids0.0%Bigwave Robotics +29.8% · Robotis +9.6% · Everybot +6.9%
- North Korea & reunification−0.3%Daea TI +4.0% · Hyundai Elevator +1.2% · Hyundai Engineering & Construction −2.0%
- Medical devices−0.6%Noul +29.9% · Dynamic solution +20.1% · Seers +17.5%
- AI software & services−0.6%Vuno +30.0% · CrowdWorks +9.2% · Polaris AI +8.2%
- Cybersecurity−0.9%Sands Lab +8.7% · Fasoo AI +6.5% · Axgate +3.9%
Worst themes
- Chip testing & packaging−5.1%Welkeeps Hitech −11.4% · Duksanhimetalco −9.1% · Micro Contact Solution −8.0%
- Lithium & rare metals−4.7%Hydro Lithium −20.4% · Soulbrain −4.8% · Lithium-for-earth −4.4%
- HBM & AI chips−4.4%PSK Holdings −9.0% · Eugene Technology −6.9% · Jusung Engineering −6.8%
- Hydrogen−3.8%Hydro Lithium −20.4% · Hanwha Solutions −6.9% · Doosan Fuel Cell Pref. −6.3%
- Climate & carbon credits−3.8%BGFecomaterials −13.4% · CS Wind −7.3% · Hanwha Solutions −6.9%
- Semiconductor equipment & materials−3.7%Koses −18.1% · Systems Technology −12.6% · Genesem −12.0%
The biggest companies
Samsung Electronics fell 1.2% and SK hynix 0.2%, after SK hynix denied a special dividend report; investors await shareholder-return news and earnings. SK Square fell 0.8%, LG Energy Solution 2.1%, Samsung Electro-Mechanics 0.4%, Samsung Biologics 0.9%, Hyundai Motor 2.5%, KB Financial 3.8%, Celltrion 2.3%, KIA 1.7%, Shinhan Financial 3.0%, Hanwha Aerospace 4.0% and Samsung SDI 1.4%. Samsung Life rose 0.6% and Samsung C&T 1.4%. BNK Financial fell 13.8% after Q3 net profit fell 28%.
- Samsung Electronics−1.2%
- SK hynix−0.2%
- SK Square−0.8%
- LG Energy Solution−2.1%
- Samsung Electro-Mechanics−0.4%
- Samsung Biologics−1.0%
- Hyundai Motor−2.5%
- KB Financial Group−3.8%
- Samsung Life Insurance+0.6%
- Samsung C&T+1.4%
- Celltrion−2.3%
- KIA−1.7%
- Shinhan Financial Group−3.0%
- Hanwha Aerospace−4.0%
- Samsung SDI−1.4%
ETFs
Best: TIGER Global AI Cybersecurity +5.6%, KODEX US AI Software TOP10 +3.6%, KIWOOM US Crude Oil Energy Companies +3.5%, KODEX US S&P500 Energy +1.6%, with humanoid robot ETFs up 0.6% to 1.1%. Worst: TIME KOSDAQ Active -7.4%, PLUS AI Semiconductor Parts Materials Active -6.5%, SOL Semiconductor Front-End Process -6.4%, SOL Space Aerospace Value Chain -6.3% and SOL Shipbuilding Equipment -6.2%. KODEX Defense TOP10 fell 5.5%. Money favored US AI software and oil, and moved away from Korean chip equipment, defense and shipbuilding.
Best ETFs
- TIGER Global AI Cybersecurity+5.6%
- KODEX US AI Software TOP10+3.6%
- KIWOOM US Crude Oil Energy Companies+3.5%
- KODEX US S&P500 Energy (Synthetic)+1.6%
- TIGER China Humanoid Robot+1.1%
- ACE K Humanoid Robot Industry TOP2++0.8%
- TIGER KTB 30Y STRIPS Active+0.8%
- 1Q US Space Aerospace Tech+0.8%
- TIGER Korea Humanoid Robot Industry+0.6%
- RISE KIS KTB 30Y Enhanced+0.6%
- KODEX US Space Aerospace+0.5%
- KODEX KTB 30Y Active+0.5%
- HANARO Global Physical AI Active+0.4%
- TIGER US Space Tech+0.3%
- KODEX Robot Active+0.3%
Worst ETFs
- TIME KOSDAQ Active−7.4%
- PLUS AI Semiconductor Parts Materials Active−6.5%
- SOL Semiconductor Front-End Process−6.4%
- SOL Space Aerospace Value Chain−6.3%
- SOL Shipbuilding Equipment−6.2%
- KoAct Hydrogen Power ESS Infrastructure Active−6.2%
- RISE KOSDAQ Covered Call Active−5.9%
- HANARO Semiconductor Core Process Leaders−5.7%
- DS KOSDAQ Active−5.7%
- KODEX Defense TOP10−5.5%
- KODEX Renewable Energy Active−5.5%
- RISE Semiconductor Materials & Parts Active−5.4%
- KODEX US AI Power Core Infrastructure−5.3%
- PLUS Solar & ESS−5.2%
- TIGER K Defense & Space−5.1%
Leveraged and inverse ETFs are left out; moves are the daily moves compounded.
How our signals did
Of 27 Squeeze! setups since Sept. 26, 6 reached TP1, 7 were stopped and 14 remain open. Kukdo Chemical (short) gained 6.7% at TP1 and Yangjisa (long) 4.9% at TP2. Technical signals: 13 of 40 worked; Samsung E&A's breakout was +7.9%. Pairs: 12 stretched, none reverted, including KB Financial / Shinhan Financial (z 2.2). Short squeeze scores: Hanssem and Meritz Financial Group 55, SM Entertainment 53.
Squeeze! setups
27 setups confirmed: 6 reached a target, 7 stopped out, 14 still open.
- Kukdo Chemical SHORT · TP1+6.7%
- W-Scope Chungju Plant SHORT · open+5.3%
- Yangjisa LONG · TP2+4.9%
- SK Bioscience SHORT · open+3.5%
- Synopex SHORT · open+2.9%
- Unid SHORT · open+2.5%
- JIN Air SHORT · open+1.8%
- ESteem LONG · open+1.8%
Notable technical signals
40 notable signals: 13 moved the way they pointed so far.
- SK Square ▼ Oct 13−10.3%
- Samsung E&A ▲ Oct 22+7.9%
- Kctech ▲ Oct 7−29.8%
- SM Bexel ▲ Oct 19−22.2%
- Foodnamoo ▼ Oct 20−10.7%
- Dongkuk Industries ▲ Oct 8−23.4%
- Dongjin Semichem ▲ Oct 1−29.8%
- HMM ▲ Oct 14−3.4%
Pair trades
12 pairs stretched: 0 came back together since.
Highest short squeeze scores
- Hanssem55was 60
- Meritz Financial Group55was 60
- SM Entertainment53was 58
- Synopex53
- KMW53was 58
Signals since Sep 26. 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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