Kai Research

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On May 27, 2026, Korea's two main bourses moved in starkly opposite directions. The KOSPI closed at a record high on the back of a surge in large-cap semiconductor names, while the KOSDAQ plunged more than 3% as liquidity drained away into the heavyweights. Index Open High Low Close Change Volume KOSPI 8,242.12 8,457.09 8,220.04 8,228.70 +2.25% 61,522.7만 KOSDAQ 1,173.80 1,173.80 1,128.75 1,133.13 -3.36% 121,239.9만 The USD/KRW exchange rate stayed elevated at 1,514.79 , while Bitcoin traded around the $75,825 level. 📈 KOSPI Analysis The KOSPI opened at 8,242.12 and spiked as high as 8,457.09 intraday, breaking above the 8,400 mark, before giving back much of those gains on profit-taking to finish at 8,228.70 ( +2.25% ) — a record closing high. The rally was driven by a surge in large-cap semiconductors such as SK hynix and Samsung Electronics, combined with an opening-day frenzy in newly listed single-stock leveraged ETN/ETF products tracking SK...

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On May 26, 2026, Korea's stock market staged a strong rebound as the KOSPI reclaimed the 8,000 level for the first time in six sessions. Electronic components, MLCC, and semiconductor parts makers led the advance, while the KOSDAQ also closed higher on the back of strength in quantum computing and security theme stocks. Index Open High Low Close Change Volume KOSPI 8,070.91 8,131.15 8,008.19 8,047.51 +2.55% 51,431.9만 KOSDAQ 1,189.28 1,205.12 1,170.41 1,172.52 +0.98% 116,898.9만 The USD/KRW exchange rate stayed elevated at 1,512.83 . A sharp drop in international crude oil (WTI) amid expectations of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire eased cost-burden concerns and supported risk appetite. 📈 KOSPI Analysis The KOSPI closed at 8,047.51 , up +2.55% from the prior session, reclaiming the 8,000 level for the first time in six trading days. It opened at 8,070.91 and climbed to an intraday high of 8,131.15 before paring some gains on profit-taking, yet still printed a...

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Friday, May 22, 2026, Korean equities showed a sharply divided session in the aftermath of the previous day's 8% KOSPI surge. The KOSPI took a breather near the flat line as profit-taking weighed on the index, while the KOSDAQ exploded higher — fueled by foreign buying and expectations of inflows from the newly launched National Growth Fund — enough to trigger an intraday sidecar. Index Open High Low Close Change Volume KOSPI 7,873.12 7,886.64 7,780.13 7,847.71 +0.41% 43,129.8만 KOSDAQ 1,119.43 1,165.80 1,119.43 1,161.13 +4.99% 101,613.3만 Item Close USD/KRW 1,499.77 KRW KOSDAQ trading volume topped 1 billion shares, dwarfing the KOSPI's roughly 430 million shares, while the won/dollar rate edged toward the 1,500 mark, extending won weakness. 📈 KOSPI Analysis The KOSPI opened at 7,873.12, carrying the burden of profit-taking after the prior session's 8.42% spike. It briefly climbed to 7,886.64 before sliding to 7,780.13, and after a vol...

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Korean equities posted their largest single-day gain of the year, staging a powerful V-shaped rebound. The KOSPI surged 8.42% to close at 7,815.59 , instantly reclaiming the 7,800 line, while the KOSDAQ rallied 4.73% to 1,105.97 , breaking back above 1,100. Semiconductor and electronics mega-caps hit their daily price limits in unison, dragging the broader market sharply higher. Index Open High Low Close Volume Change KOSPI 7,486.37 7,819.23 7,486.37 7,815.59 61,636.5만 +8.42% KOSDAQ 1,085.30 1,115.66 1,085.30 1,105.97 91,653.5만 +4.73% USD/KRW 1,507.85 KRW Liquidity was record-breaking, with KOSPI volume reaching 616 million shares and KOSDAQ 916 million shares, confirming an aggressive ownership rotation. Notably, the intraday low matched the opening price on both indices — a textbook trending-tape pattern. 📈 KOSPI Analysis The KOSPI closed at 7,815.59, up 606.64 points ( +8.42% ) , immediately recovering the 7,800 level. Af...

📌 One-Line Summary Korean stocks closed lower on Wednesday as a US Treasury yield surge and a 10-session foreign selling streak weighed on sentiment. The KOSPI barely defended the 7,200 line, while AI newcomer Makinarocks — dubbed the "K-Palantir" — stole the spotlight with a limit-up debut on the KOSDAQ. 📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, both Korean benchmarks fell sharply under the weight of surging US Treasury yields and persistent foreign outflows. The KOSPI briefly slipped to an intraday low of 7,053.84 before late-session buying in large-cap heavyweights pulled it back above 7,200, while the KOSDAQ tumbled more than 2% to close near 1,056. Index Open High Low Close Volume Change KOSPI 7,324.52 7,324.52 7,053.84 7,208.95 48,589.8만 -0.86% KOSDAQ 1,081.04 1,081.04 1,038.23 1,056.07 121,454.3만 -2.61% The USD/KRW exchange rate ended at 1,492.32 , but spiked intraday to the 1,510 won range, amplifying foreign selling pressure. Renewed fears of a b...

📌 One-Line Summary The Korean won tumbled to the 1,497 level and U.S. Treasury yields ticked higher, triggering a wave of foreign selling worth over 1 trillion KRW. The KOSPI plunged -3.25% to close at 7,271.66 while the KOSDAQ fell -2.41% to 1,084.36. 📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, Korean equities closed sharply lower as a sliding won and aggressive foreign outflows hammered both benchmark indices. Selling pressure intensified from the open, with the KOSPI tumbling as much as 4% intraday to 7,141.91 before recovering modestly into the close. The breach of the psychologically important 7,300 level weighed heavily on sentiment. Index Open High Low Close Volume Change KOSPI 7,425.66 7,446.57 7,141.91 7,271.66 52,478.1만 -3.25% KOSDAQ 1,111.36 1,122.85 1,063.28 1,084.36 109,380.2만 -2.41% 💱 FX Snapshot The USD/KRW rate surged to 1,497.15 , just a breath away from the symbolic 1,500 threshold. The won's weakness directly amplified foreign exchange losses ...

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Korean stock market endured another wave of extreme volatility, extending the aftershock of last Friday's record-breaking yet ill-fated push past the 8,000 mark on the KOSPI (which closed -6.12% that day). A sell-side sidecar was triggered during the morning session as foreign selling pressure intensified, sending the KOSPI tumbling to 7,142.71 intraday before semiconductor heavyweights spearheaded a sharp afternoon rebound. The benchmark ultimately closed at 7,516.04 , eking out a marginal gain, while the KOSDAQ failed to follow suit and slid into a fourth consecutive session of losses. Index Open High Low Close Change Volume KOSPI 7,443.29 7,636.20 7,142.71 7,516.04 +0.31% 56,137.7만 shares KOSDAQ 1,122.57 1,122.57 1,071.66 1,111.09 -1.66% 94,910.8만 shares USD/KRW 1,493.34 (testing the psychologically critical 1,500 level) The KOSPI's intraday swing of roughly 494 points (from a high of 7,636.20 to a low of 7,142....

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Friday, May 15, 2026, Korea's equity market experienced one of the most violent intraday reversals in its history. The benchmark KOSPI breached the historic 8,000 mark for the first time ever in the morning session, only to collapse below 7,500 by the close. The euphoria of the '8,000-pi' milestone evaporated within hours as the USD/KRW exchange rate broke through 1,500 won, triggering aggressive foreign capital outflows and a wave of panic selling. The KOSPI's intraday swing of roughly 9% (675 points) marks a historic level of single-day volatility. Index Open High Low Close Volume Change KOSPI 7,951.75 8,046.78 7,371.68 7,493.18 87,872.7만 -6.12% KOSDAQ 1,197.23 1,197.23 1,110.16 1,129.82 108,295.6만 -5.14% USD/KRW 1,489.84 won (intraday reports of 1,500 won breach) Both markets recorded a massive surge in turnover — KOSPI volume reached 878.7 million shares and KOSDAQ 1.08 billion shares, well above typical sessions. The volume spik...

📊 Today's Market at a Glance On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Korean equities extended their bullish run as the KOSPI rewrote its all-time high once again, with the KOSDAQ also closing higher and reinforcing risk-on sentiment. A favorable backdrop emerged from ahead-of-the-US-China summit expectations and overnight strength in US technology stocks, while aggressive buying from retail investors pushed the indices firmly higher. Index Open High Low Close Change Volume KOSPI 7,873.91 7,991.04 7,842.72 7,981.41 +1.75% 84,232.2만 KOSDAQ 1,187.02 1,194.03 1,162.20 1,191.09 +1.20% 98,390.3만 USD/KRW traded around 1,492.99 , hovering close to the psychological 1,500 level, while the KOSPI touched an intraday peak of 7,991.04 and brought the much-watched 'KOSPI 8,000' milestone within reach. 📈 KOSPI Analysis The KOSPI opened at 7,873.91 and briefly dipped to 7,842.72 in early trading before strong buying flows lifted the index to a fresh record high of 7,991.04, ultimately closing at 7,98...