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Monthly wrap · August 2026 · 20 trading days

KOSPI up 3.4%, KOSDAQ up 15.9% in August as foreigners sell and retail buys

KOSPI+3.4%KOSDAQ+15.9%KOSPI 200+2.4%

August opened with a sharp reversal. After a record 17.91% one-day KOSPI jump on July 31, the index fell 5.12% to 6,257.45 on August 3 on profit-taking, with semiconductors down 8.71% that day. It then rebounded on a revival in the global AI trade, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading on some days, and was described as in technical bull market territory. It ended the month up 3.4% at 6,820.02.

The KOSDAQ rose 15.9% to 834.29, the best August since the market opened in 1996. Early in the month money moved from the KOSPI into KOSDAQ pharma, biotech, robots and cosmetics, and two buy sidecars were triggered. Semiconductor equipment and materials small caps and large biotech names led the climb. Retail investors bought about ₩2.2 trillion on KOSDAQ while foreigners and institutions sold. In the last week, after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signaled strong concern over inflation at Jackson Hole, September rate-hike fears returned and foreigners net sold about ₩8.3 trillion of KOSPI stocks in the week.

Company stories fed the themes. L&F returned to profit on North American ESS demand tied to AI data centers, and its shares rose 100.1%. Related names also gained: Samsung SDI rose 45.3%, LG Energy Solution 15.2% and POSCO Future M 45.6%. NHN rose 100.3% after record Q2 revenue of ₩757.9 billion, up 25.3%, and drew an investment-caution designation. Sama Aluminium rose 134.8% amid reports of a battery foil capacity expansion. SOOP fell 20.1% after an earnings shock.

Why the market moved

The KOSPI rebounded on a revival in the global AI trade, while the KOSDAQ surged as money moved from the KOSPI into small caps; Fed rate-hike fears hit foreign flows late in the month.12345

Top themes

Batteries

L&F profit turn on North American ESS demand123

  • L&F, Cathode maker returned to operating profit+100.11%
  • POSCO Future M, Battery materials rebound+45.65%
  • Samsung SDI, EV battery maker, institutions bought+45.32%

Semiconductor test and equipment

Small-cap chip equipment led KOSDAQ surge12

The big stories

KOSDAQ posts record August gain as KOSPI rebounds on AI trade

The KOSDAQ rose 15.91% in August, its best August on record since the market opened in 1996, far outpacing the KOSPI's 3.40% gain, with retail investors buying while foreigners and institutions sold. The KOSPI closed up 3.39% on the rebound, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix leading as a revival in the global AI trade pushed it toward a technical bull market.12345

Directly affected

Next in line

NHN hits record Q2 profit, shares surge and get investment warning

NHN reported record second-quarter results with revenue up 25.3% to 757.9 billion won and operating profit up 164.1%, helped by NHN Cloud's GPU-as-a-service business. Shares closed up 100.26% in the period, and the exchange designated the stock for investment caution after a 105.22% gain over 15 days.12345

Directly affected

Next in line

L&F returns to profit on North American ESS demand

L&F reported preliminary second-quarter consolidated operating profit of 20.8 billion won, swinging from a 121.2 billion won loss a year earlier, and its shares closed up 100.11% in the period. Analysts pointed to North American ESS demand tied to AI data center power needs as the key driver of the battery sector rebound.1234567

Directly affected

Next in line

Further out

Sama Aluminium soars as battery foil capacity expansion draws attention

Sama Aluminium shares closed up 134.81% in the period, with reports pointing to a capacity expansion of aluminum foil for batteries. The company filed its half-year report on August 14.123

Directly affected

Next in line

Further out

SOOP shares plunge after earnings shock and target price cuts

SOOP reported second-quarter revenue of 103.8 billion won, down 11.2%, and operating profit of 12.6 billion won, down 57.9%, blaming weak content advertising and one-off tax investigation costs. Shares closed down 20.10%, and Meritz Securities cut its target price from 76,000 won to 51,000 won.123

Directly affected

Next in line

Fed rate-hike fears drive record foreign selling in KOSPI

After Fed Chair Kevin Warsh signaled strong concern over inflation at Jackson Hole, fears of a September rate hike returned, and foreigners net sold about 8.3 trillion won of KOSPI stocks in the week. KOSPI fell 1.79% that week while the KOSDAQ rose 4.55%.123

AprilBio plunges after largest shareholder change correction

AprilBio shares closed down 19.15% after a correction disclosure on its largest shareholder change, which reflected a loan assignment and collateral holder change tied to the acquisition financing. Shares had fallen 29.15% in after-hours trading before the close.123

Directly affected

The market

The KOSPI gained 3.4% to 6,820.02, the KOSDAQ 15.9% to 834.29 and the KOSPI 200 2.4% to 1,071.85. Breadth on the main list was negative in the data: 1,108 stocks rose, 1,378 fell and 281 were flat. Another report said 743 of 941 KOSPI stocks (79.0%) rose in August, and the KOSPI excluding KOSPI 200 members gained 12.7%. Average daily trading value was about ₩32.9 trillion against about ₩31.8 trillion average. Another report said KOSDAQ daily turnover had fallen to the ₩5 trillion range in August. On August 19 the KOSPI fell 5.80% to 6,471.17 and a sell sidecar was triggered. The won strengthened 4.5% to 1,376.5 per dollar, and the 3-year Treasury yield rose 8.0 basis points to 3.838%.

KOSPIDaily closes · shaded: this wrap6,820.02
6,0008,000
Jan 26Apr 8Jun 22Aug 31
KOSDAQDaily closes · shaded: this wrap834.29
8001,0001,200
Jan 26Apr 8Jun 22Aug 31

1,108 stocks rose, 1,378 fell · trading value ₩33T

USD/KRW1,376.5−4.5%
KTB 3y3.84+8bp

Themes investors follow

Hydrogen led the themes with a 32.0% gain, driven by Doosan Fuel Cell (+83.9%), Doosan Fuel Cell Preferred (+26.8%) and Doosan Enerbility (+23.0%). Chip testing and packaging rose 27.0%, led by Micro Contact Solution (+102.5%), Exicon (+83.3%) and Simmtech (+55.9%). Crypto and digital assets rose 25.9%, ADC and cancer drugs 23.1%, battery materials 22.3% and EV batteries 22.1%. Power grid and cables rose 21.2%, with Gaon Cable up 56.5% and Iljin Electric up 36.9%, while Korea Electric Power fell 8.3%. K-beauty rose 20.9%, led by Aromatica (+95.4%).

Robots and humanoids rose 19.4%, with Robotis up 40.1%. K-defense rose 13.3%, with Hanwha up 34.7% and Hanwha Aerospace up 20.2%. Solar and wind rose 17.7% and biotech 12.6%. HBM and AI chips rose 7.3% on small names like HVM (+31.2%), while Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell. Shipbuilding rose only 2.9%, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries down 6.5%. Lithium and rare metals fell 7.2%.

Popular themes

Best themes

Worst themes

  • Lithium & rare metals−7.2%Hydro Lithium −33.1% · Kumyang 0.0% · Lithium-for-earth +11.5%
  • Hyundai & Kia (carmakers)−0.1%KG Mobility −4.9% · CTR Mobility −1.2% · KIA −0.7%
  • Retail & duty-free+0.7%Daegu Department Store −22.7% · Lotte Shopping −9.3% · Chungdamglobal −9.3%
  • K-pop & entertainment+1.5%Samg Entertainment −26.5% · Aurora World −19.3% · Aniplus −19.2%
  • Games+2.1%Thumbage −36.0% · Com2uS N −14.4% · Devsisters −11.9%
  • Shipbuilding+2.9%HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering −9.4% · HD Hyundai Heavy Industries −6.5% · IL Seung −6.0%

The biggest companies

Samsung Electronics fell 0.9% and SK hynix fell 2.6%; no clear reason was reported beyond the broad chip moves. Samsung Electro-Mechanics rose 27.7% and LG Energy Solution 15.2%. Hanwha Aerospace rose 20.2%, Doosan Enerbility 23.0%, Samsung C&T 7.1%, Shinhan Financial Group 8.2%, Hyundai Motor 4.0%, KB Financial Group 2.9% and Samsung Biologics 2.2%. Samsung Life Insurance fell 1.7%, KIA 0.7% and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries 6.5%. SK Square slipped 0.1% and filed a share cancellation decision.

Who was buying and selling

Foreigners net sold about ₩10.2 trillion on KOSPI and about ₩1.8 trillion on KOSDAQ. Their largest net sales were SK hynix (about ₩6.4 trillion), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (about ₩1.6 trillion) and Samsung Electronics Preferred (about ₩1.4 trillion). Their top buys were LG Electronics (about ₩240.0 billion, +33.5%), Celltrion (about ₩229.4 billion) and Hanwha Ocean (about ₩199.7 billion).

Institutions bought Samsung SDI (about ₩604.8 billion), LG Energy Solution (about ₩289.5 billion) and Doosan Enerbility (about ₩279.4 billion), and sold Samsung Electronics (about ₩4.5 trillion) and SK hynix (about ₩3.2 trillion). Retail investors bought Samsung Electronics (about ₩2.0 trillion), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (about ₩1.3 trillion) and SK hynix (about ₩1.1 trillion), and sold Samsung SDI and LG Electronics.

Foreign investors

Net bought

  1. 1LG Electronics+₩240B+33.5%
  2. 2Celltrion+₩229B+1.2%
  3. 3Hanwha Ocean+₩200B+3.3%
  4. 4Samsung Biologics+₩185B+2.2%
  5. 5PharmaResearch+₩184B+25.9%
  6. 6SK+₩177B−2.2%
  7. 7SK Square+₩174B−0.1%
  8. 8LIG Defense&Aerospace+₩163B−0.7%
  9. 9Silicon 2+₩160B+59.6%
  10. 10Korea Investment Holdings+₩147B−6.9%
  11. 11Samyang Foods+₩140B+31.1%
  12. 12KIA+₩131B−0.7%
  13. 13Samsung C&T+₩129B+7.1%
  14. 14SK Innovation+₩124B+13.6%
  15. 15LS Electric+₩124B+12.3%

Net sold

  1. 1SK hynix−₩6.4T−2.6%
  2. 2Samsung Electro-Mechanics−₩1.6T+27.7%
  3. 3Samsung Electronics Pref.−₩1.4T−2.4%
  4. 4Samsung Electronics−₩820B−0.9%
  5. 5SK Telecom−₩310B+15.8%
  6. 6Doosan Enerbility−₩230B+23.0%
  7. 7Samsung SDI−₩196B+45.3%
  8. 8GS Holdings−₩183B+42.8%
  9. 9L&F−₩169B+100.1%
  10. 10Hyundai Engineering & Construction−₩144B+30.3%
  11. 11Korea Zinc−₩144B+27.8%
  12. 12Hanmi Pharm−₩140B+47.7%
  13. 13Daewoo Engineering & Construction−₩140B+42.3%
  14. 14Isupetasys−₩135B+53.0%
  15. 15Hyundai Motor−₩120B+4.0%

Institutions

Net bought

  1. 1Samsung SDI+₩605B+45.3%
  2. 2LG Energy Solution+₩289B+15.2%
  3. 3Doosan Enerbility+₩279B+23.0%
  4. 4NAVER+₩254B+4.3%
  5. 5Isupetasys+₩238B+53.0%
  6. 6Samsung Electro-Mechanics+₩232B+27.7%
  7. 7L&F+₩220B+100.1%
  8. 8Samsung Electronics Pref.+₩212B−2.4%
  9. 9GS Engineering & Construction+₩210B+54.8%
  10. 10GS Holdings+₩200B+42.8%
  11. 11Korea Zinc+₩196B+27.8%
  12. 12Hyundai Engineering & Construction+₩178B+30.3%
  13. 13Hanmi Pharm+₩161B+47.7%
  14. 14Shinhan Financial Group+₩149B+8.2%
  15. 15SK Telecom+₩130B+15.8%

Net sold

  1. 1Samsung Electronics−₩4.5T−0.9%
  2. 2SK hynix−₩3.2T−2.6%
  3. 3SK Square−₩398B−0.1%
  4. 4Hyundai Motor−₩374B+4.0%
  5. 5Hyundai Mobis−₩276B−4.7%
  6. 6HD Hyundai Heavy Industries−₩191B−6.5%
  7. 7Korea Electric Power−₩169B−8.3%
  8. 8KIA−₩162B−0.7%
  9. 9LIG Defense&Aerospace−₩159B−0.7%
  10. 10Korea Investment Holdings−₩133B−6.9%
  11. 11Hanwha Ocean−₩117B+3.3%
  12. 12SK−₩113B−2.2%
  13. 13Samsung C&T−₩98B+7.1%
  14. 14Hyundai-Rotem−₩96B+1.9%
  15. 15Kakao−₩95B−2.3%

Retail investors

Net bought

  1. 1Samsung Electronics+₩2T−0.9%
  2. 2Samsung Electro-Mechanics+₩1.3T+27.7%
  3. 3Samsung Electronics Pref.+₩1.2T−2.4%
  4. 4SK hynix+₩1.1T−2.6%
  5. 5Hyundai Motor+₩498B+4.0%
  6. 6SK Square+₩237B−0.1%
  7. 7Hyundai Mobis+₩190B−4.7%
  8. 8Korea Electric Power+₩184B−8.3%
  9. 9SK Telecom+₩171B+15.8%
  10. 10Jeju Semiconductor+₩112B+20.1%
  11. 11LG Innotek+₩101B+24.9%
  12. 12Samsung Life Insurance+₩97B−1.7%
  13. 13Samsung Securities+₩93B−11.8%
  14. 14LS+₩86B+16.7%
  15. 15JYP Entertainment+₩80B−7.7%

Net sold

  1. 1Samsung SDI−₩414B+45.3%
  2. 2LG Electronics−₩379B+33.5%
  3. 3NAVER−₩247B+4.3%
  4. 4GS Engineering & Construction−₩247B+54.8%
  5. 5Celltrion−₩194B+1.2%
  6. 6APR−₩175B+45.1%
  7. 7Korean Air Lines−₩169B+8.5%
  8. 8Amorepacific−₩161B+13.2%
  9. 9PharmaResearch−₩160B+25.9%
  10. 10HPSP−₩153B+45.1%
  11. 11LG Energy Solution−₩143B+15.2%
  12. 12Samsung SDS−₩137B+16.5%
  13. 13SK Innovation−₩136B+13.6%
  14. 14Samyang Foods−₩136B+31.1%
  15. 15Samsung Biologics−₩123B+2.2%

ETFs

Cosmetics and battery ETFs led: SOL Cosmetics TOP3 Plus rose 47.6%, TIGER Cosmetics 36.6%, SOL All-Solid-State Battery & Silicon Anode 31.8% and HANARO K-Beauty 29.9%. Solar, ESS, secondary battery, renewable and nuclear funds gained roughly 25% to 30%, including TIGER Korea Nuclear Power (+27.5%), and AI semiconductor equipment funds gained about 26%. The worst was KODEX 200 Long KOSDAQ 150 Short Futures (-16.2%), followed by US AI-related funds: KODEX US AI Power Core Infrastructure (-10.3%) and HANARO US AI Memory Semiconductor TOP4+ (-9.8%). Money favored domestic themes over US AI and China funds.

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 recorded in the period. Of 40 technical events, 14 worked. Among examples, RaonSecure's 200-day reclaim on August 28 was up 83.0%, Kumho Electric's golden cross on August 12 was up 55.7% and Gaeasoft's was up 20.5%. HMM's golden cross (-0.9%), Nongshim's breakout (-8.7%), Hanmi Pharm's breakout (-31.4%) and Celltrion's breakout (-7.7%) did not work. No pair trades were flagged. Top short squeeze scores were 60 for Meritz Financial Group, Hanssem and ISU Specialty Chemical, then SM Entertainment at 58 and KMW at 58. Of five IPOs, KNS Space and Defence rose 39.8% on its first day while four others fell 26.6% to 39.4%.

Notable technical signals

40 notable signals: 14 moved the way they pointed so far.

Highest short squeeze scores

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. Index and stock moves are the daily moves compounded over the period. Reasons come only from the linked daily wraps, news, filings and broker reports; when none gives a reason, we say so. Not financial advice.

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