Samsung Electronics and SK hynix 2x leveraged ETFs allowed: 'Korean market volatility will increase' / Foreigners' large futures and options selling, betting on a bear market? | Mirae Asset Asset Management Director Choi Chang-gyu

[#찐시황] 삼성전자·SK하이닉스 2배 레버리지 ETF 허용 "한국증시 변동성이 더 커진다" / 외인 선물·옵션 대규모 매도, 하락장에 베팅했나? | 미래에셋자산운용 최창규 이사
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 01, 2026 at 11:00  |  40:09  |  815 Money Talk (815머니톡)
Speakers
Choi Chang-gyu — Director, NH Investment & Securities

Summary

Choi Chang-gyu reviews the Jan 30 US market drop, Kevin Warsh's hawkish Fed-chair nomination, gold and silver's forced-liquidation plunge, and US retail ETF and stock flows. He then covers Korean market policy changes, including KOSDAQ activation, single-stock leveraged ETFs, daily weekly options, KOSDAQ 150 ETF inflows, copper's supply shortage theme, SK hynix's breakout, and heavy foreign selling in Korean futures and spot equities.

  • US markets fell despite easing shutdown worries, with rate and dollar concerns tied to Kevin Warsh's nomination.
  • Gold and silver plunged, triggering margin calls and forced liquidation that affected broader risk sentiment.
  • US retail bought Alphabet, Micron, SanDisk, AST SpaceMobile, Huntington Ingalls, and Redwire, while selling some semiconductor and leverage exposure.
  • Korea announced KOSDAQ activation measures and plans to allow single-stock leveraged ETFs, likely starting with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
  • Daily weekly options on KOSPI 200, KOSDAQ 150, and single stocks are expected to increase zero-day-like trading and volatility.
  • Copper remains supported by AI data-center and power-infrastructure demand, supply disruptions, and liquidity expectations.
  • SK hynix broke above KRW 900,000, lifting its semiconductor equipment and materials supply chain and large-cap ETF proxies.
  • Foreigners net sold KOSPI 200 futures and Korean spot equities, while KOSDAQ ETF and arbitrage flows remained key signals to watch.
Ideas
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 0:49
Monitor gold and silver after forced-liquidation plunge.
Gold and silver had been the strongest risk assets, but their sharp plunge triggered margin calls and forced liquidation that spread into equities. The key issue now is whether they rebound or correct further, because that will shape risk sentiment for the stock market.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 6:10
Alphabet combines AI platform, ads, and cloud.
Alphabet was the top US retail net buy. Meta's strong results showed advertising and personalized ads are key profit drivers, and Alphabet is a big-tech name that combines an AI platform, advertising, and cloud, making it a natural AI/advertising/cloud exposure.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 6:35
HBM demand and Hynix strength help Micron.
Micron was among US retail net buys because HBM-related demand and SK hynix's strength led investors to expect Micron strength as well.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 6:46
SanDisk has strong earnings and attractive valuation.
SanDisk was a top retail buy due to very strong earnings momentum; even after pulling forward earnings, valuation still looks attractive.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 7:08
Space momentum supports AST satellite telecom play.
AST SpaceMobile is a satellite-based 5G and communications play; space-sector momentum remains alive because SpaceX's IPO is expected around June.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 7:30
Defense shipbuilding play on geopolitical risk.
Huntington Ingalls is a representative defense and shipbuilding theme, and retail investors bought it to target potential Iran-US geopolitical risk.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 9:48
Watch Redwire's space and defense positioning.
Redwire operates in space and defense, including next-generation spacecraft, large space infrastructure, microgravity manufacturing, autonomous and unmanned systems, sensors, and RF. It is integrating its brand and following ISS docking standards, making it a company to watch in space and defense.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 12:11
Commodity-driven Latin American markets need monitoring.
Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil were strong because of metals and commodities, especially copper's record high, a weak dollar, currency strength, and carry expectations. The question is whether they can stay strong if precious metals and commodities correct.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 13:44
KOSDAQ policy changes act as catalyst.
KOSDAQ activation policies, including extending the venture fund, expanding IPO priority allocation, introducing BDC and IMA-type supply, raising pension benchmark weights, and expanding research and value-up disclosures, address past distrust and investment restrictions and can act as a catalyst for KOSDAQ.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 16:21
Single-stock leveraged ETFs may raise volatility.
Regulatory changes are expected to allow domestic single-stock leveraged ETFs, likely first on Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, with possible launch around April-May. This could pull offshore leverage demand onshore but also increase volatility, with investor-protection measures such as education and a KRW 10 million deposit.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 20:19
Daily weekly options may boost speculation.
Korea is expanding new derivatives: daily weekly options on KOSPI 200 and KOSDAQ 150 and five-day single-stock options will create zero-day-like trading and potential speculative demand, while also enabling covered-call and ETF strategies. Monitor volatility and positioning signals.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 20:19
Daily weekly options may boost speculation.
Foreigners turned net sellers of KOSPI 200 futures, with about 17,000 contracts net sold worth over KRW 3 trillion, and they sold about KRW 4 trillion of Korean spot equities over two days. This suggests a bet on overheating and points to a lower Korean market open; watch whether they sell more or buy back.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 24:39
Copper shortage from AI and power investment.
Copper remains strong: weak dollar and liquidity expectations, China, geopolitical risk and shipping issues, and mine accidents, strikes, and maintenance delays are tightening supply. The key point is that AI data centers and power-infrastructure investment should make copper increasingly short.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 27:14
Korean rallies still have upside room.
After traveling to regional branches, the speaker found the market hot and crowded, not easily cooling; KOSPI rose 4.7% and KOSDAQ 15.7% in a week, suggesting there is still upside room even after the strong move.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 27:49
KOSDAQ 150 ETF inflows drive passive buying.
Large inflows into KOSDAQ 150 ETF and KOSDAQ 150 leveraged ETF force ETF creation and mechanical buying of constituents, creating strong passive demand; watch whether this flow continues.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 31:46
Hynix strength lifts semiconductor equipment suppliers.
SK hynix's strength is driving good share-price performance across its semiconductor materials and equipment supplier chain, creating a value-chain trade.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 32:12
Large-cap ETFs provide concentrated Hynix exposure.
TIGER Korea Top10 has about 38% SK hynix weight and RISE Large-Cap High Dividend 10 TR has about 34%. If investors want to bet on SK hynix and Samsung Electronics strength, these concentrated large-cap ETFs are a way to do it.
Choi Chang-gyu Director, NH Investment & Securities 38:00
Foreign straddles signal KOSPI volatility setup.
Foreigners have maintained a long straddle on KOSPI 200 options from the prior week, with the breakeven around KOSPI 200 720. As the index moves above breakeven, watch whether they add calls or take profits, which would signal positioning and volatility direction.
Up Next

This 815 Money Talk (815머니톡) video, published February 01, 2026, features Choi Chang-gyu discussing GLD, SILVER, GOOGL, MU, SNDK, ASTS, HII, RDW, EPU, ECH, Colombia, EWZ, KOSDAQ, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, KOSDAQ 150, KOSPI 200, COPPER, EWY, KOSDAQ 150 ETF, KOSDAQ 150 Leveraged ETF, Korean semiconductor equipment and materials, TIGER Korea Top10 ETF, RISE Large-Cap High Dividend 10 TR ETF, KOSPI 200 options. 18 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Choi Chang-gyu  · Tickers: GLD, SILVER, GOOGL, MU, SNDK, ASTS, HII, RDW, EPU, ECH, Colombia, EWZ, KOSDAQ, 005930.KS, 000660.KS, KOSDAQ 150, KOSPI 200, COPPER, EWY, KOSDAQ 150 ETF, KOSDAQ 150 Leveraged ETF, Korean semiconductor equipment and materials, TIGER Korea Top10 ETF, RISE Large-Cap High Dividend 10 TR ETF, KOSPI 200 options