Institutions Finally Moved…Decisive Change in the Stock Market in the Second Half | Park Byung-chang, MP Partners CEO [Market Inside]

Summary

Park Byung-chang, CEO of MP Partners, reviews the volatile session in US and Korean markets, highlighting a sudden burst of institutional buying in Korea that lifted Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and other sectors. He examines the rotation potential if institutions stay active, the impact of the Space X IPO on liquidity, and the key events ahead including CPI, Oracle earnings, and the FOMC. He also flags Korean semiconductor equipment entering a capex upcycle and emerging themes like nuclear power under the US investment program, while advising a cautious, dip-buying stance.

• US equities swung wildly intraday (S&P 500 3.2% range) with no clear macro driver; Space X IPO subscription was the main liquidity drain.
• Korean market surged with institutions (trusts and pension funds) buying heavily, driving Samsung Electronics +9% and SK Hynix +15.9%, while retail and foreign investors both sold.
• The institutional move lifted not only the semiconductor twins but also biotech and other sectors, hinting at a potential rotation away from the two-top dominance.
• Key near-term catalysts: US CPI, Oracle earnings (AI barometer), TSMC monthly sales, and the FOMC where Powell’s tone will swing markets sharply.
• Park expects Powell to stay non-hawkish and broadly dovish, aligning with Trump’s agenda; he personally buys dips on Korean equities in this volatility.
• Korean semiconductor equipment/materials sector is entering a clear capex cycle, supported by Samsung-SK Hynix packaging plant plans and strong memory price forecasts.
• Korea’s US investment decree allocates $2 billion to strategic industries; media speculates nuclear power and electrical equipment will be prime beneficiaries.
• New ETFs are proliferating: a US-listed Samsung Electro-Mechanics 2x leveraged ETF appears, and domestic physical AI-themed ETFs are set to launch.