Emergency Market Update: Investor Sentiment Completely Collapses, Sell Bombs Pour Out / Samsung Electronics Holds Up While SK Hynix Plummets

Summary

After two consecutive days of KOSPI circuit breakers, Lee Kwon-hee analyzes why Samsung Electronics is holding up better than SK Hynix and identifies which sectors are showing resilience. He points to shareholder return stories (HD Hyundai, financials), earnings turnarounds in secondary batteries, and technical stabilisation in defense and renewables as the few bright spots, while cautioning that the overall trend is still fragile and requires confirmation.

• KOSPI suffered its first-ever back‑to‑back circuit breaker, with massive individual investor capitulation selling.
• Samsung Electronics rebounded sharply on a confident post‑earnings call that promised special dividends and highlighted tight chip supply, while SK Hynix’s disappointing call drove further weakness.
• HD Hyundai Group and financial holding companies rallied on aggressive dividend and shareholder return policies.
• Secondary battery stocks (LG Energy Solution, EcoPro BM, POSCO Future M) turned higher after reporting strong earnings turnarounds.
• Defense and renewable energy sectors showed unexpected strength, attempting to form a bottom.
• Leveraged single‑stock ETFs amplified intraday swings, especially in SK Hynix.
• The FOMC held rates but kept a hawkish bias, leaving the US 10‑year yield elevated and adding to uncertainty.
• The CEO advises waiting for a confirmed trend reversal before increasing exposure, as the market is still dominated by foreign and institutional flows.