Chesley Morning Brief: New York Stocks Close Higher on Improved Manufacturing Indicators and AI Optimism; Dow Up 1.05% [26/02/03]

[체슬리모닝브리프]뉴욕증시, 제조업 지표 개선·AI 기대감에 상승 마감…다우 1.05%↑[26/02/03]
Watch on YouTube ↗  |  February 03, 2026 at 00:26  |  1:48:57  |  Chesley Investment Advisory (체슬리투자자문)
Speakers
Seo-hyung — Deputy Manager
Jin Yeok-ju — Assistant Manager
Choi Ho — Vice President
Park Se-ik — CEO, ex-Chief Strategist
Wang Jeong — Department Head

Summary

Chesley Morning Brief for February 3 reviews a US market rebound driven by a strong ISM manufacturing print and AI optimism, with Palantir earnings and semiconductor strength in focus. The crypto segment flags Bitcoin's fragile setup around Strategy's average cost and yen-carry liquidity risks. Korea is discussed after a sharp selloff, with rebound expectations, Hyundai Rotem order momentum, semiconductor leadership, and medium-term correction risk. China and commodity coverage highlights silver's speculative unwind and Yunnan Energy New Material's separator leadership amid a battery inventory turn.

  • US stocks rebounded as ISM manufacturing beat expectations and AI-related optimism returned.
  • Palantir beat estimates with strong revenue growth, margins, and guidance; semiconductor memory names also rallied.
  • Bitcoin stabilized but remains below key cost levels; Strategy's average price and ETF outflows are watched.
  • Korea sold off sharply but night futures pointed to a rebound; Hyundai Rotem's order pipeline was highlighted.
  • Korean market strategists see semiconductor leadership continuing but flag a possible H2 correction.
  • KOSDAQ and robotics were favored on government support and upcoming physical AI catalysts.
  • China and commodities discussion focused on silver's futures-driven selloff and separator leader Yunnan Energy New Material.
  • Battery-chain inventory data suggested a cyclical bottom and recovery.
Ideas
Seo-hyung Deputy Manager 7:56
India tariff relief benefits Apple's supply chain
The US-India tariff agreement lowers tariffs from 50% to 18% after India agreed to stop Russian oil imports, which benefits companies with India production exposure like Apple. Apple also has strong iPhone 17 sales momentum, and the stock rose 4%.
Seo-hyung Deputy Manager 11:28
Semiconductors rebound on memory and AI
Semiconductor stocks rebounded strongly as the memory shortage narrative and analyst target hikes boosted sentiment; Micron, AMD, TSMC, and Intel rose, and semiconductor equipment stocks were also higher.
Seo-hyung Deputy Manager 11:49
Memory shortage and target hikes lift SanDisk
Memory shortage concerns and analyst target hikes, including Barclays raising its target from $385 to $750, drove SanDisk up about 15%, showing continued strong memory momentum.
Seo-hyung Deputy Manager 12:53
Funding plan eases Oracle debt concerns
Oracle announced a clear funding plan of $45-50bn, including $25bn of investment-grade bonds, $21bn through an ATM, and $5bn of mandatory convertible preferred stock, easing debt concerns and sending CDS lower.
Seo-hyung Deputy Manager 14:16
Prediction market catalysts may revive Robinhood
Robinhood is weak with crypto, but its prediction-market business has upcoming catalysts including the Winter Olympics, March Madness, the World Cup, and midterm elections, and progress on the CLARITY Act could revive transaction volumes in the second half.
Jin Yeok-ju Assistant Manager 18:47
Bitcoin fragile near Strategy's key cost level
Bitcoin rebounded technically but remains fragile: Strategy's average cost near $76k and the 2025 high near $73k are key levels. If $76k breaks, Bitcoin likely tests $73k and then $68k; leverage has been liquidated, institutions are weak, ETF redemptions continue, sentiment is at extreme fear, and yen-dollar correlation needs watching.
Jin Yeok-ju Assistant Manager 22:56
Strategy's Bitcoin cost level is critical
Strategy's average Bitcoin purchase cost is near $76k and its buying pace is slowing through ATM issuance while ETF redemptions continue. If Strategy's average cost breaks, other DAT companies and crypto sentiment could suffer.
Choi Ho Vice President 34:26
Palantir earnings beat has more upside
Palantir's Q4 results beat expectations: revenue grew 70% and adjusted operating margin was 57%, pushing its Rule of 40 score to 127%. US commercial revenue rose 137%, total commercial rose 82%, overseas bookings reached $1bn, the US Navy contract was $448m, and guidance was well above consensus. The P/E has compressed to 141.5 from over 200, suggesting prior concerns were overdone.
Choi Ho Vice President 61:20
Nvidia supply report needs confirmation
Samsung Electro-Mechanics rose on a report that it could supply flip-chip BGA to Nvidia. The report is not confirmed and needs more verification, but the market is somewhat believing it, creating a potential supply-chain catalyst.
Choi Ho Vice President 62:18
Solid-state battery plans support future momentum
Samsung SDI reported an earnings shock, but on the conference call it said it will invest in all-solid-state battery line expansion and target mass production next year. That gives a clear H2 and next-year momentum catalyst despite weak current results.
Park Se-ik CEO, ex-Chief Strategist 66:19
Korea likely rebounds after oversold selloff
After Korea's sharp drop, night futures rose 3.78% and after-hours Samsung Electronics and SK hynix rebounded, suggesting much of yesterday's decline can be recovered. The selloff was driven by foreign futures selling and overextended technicals rather than a macro trigger, so a rebound and bullish candle are expected.
Choi Ho Vice President 66:44
Order pipeline supports Hyundai Rotem upside
Hyundai Rotem's Q4 missed due to the end of Poland K2 phase 1 and initial costs in phase 2, but growth concerns are easing. Initial costs should fade in H2, and the order pipeline includes Iraq around KRW 9tn, Peru around KRW 3tn, and Romania around KRW 11tn; if Peru and Romania are awarded, backlog can more than double. Valuation is below domestic and European peers, with a target of KRW 290k.
Choi Ho Vice President 79:16
Korean semiconductor leadership has more upside
The report argues Korean semiconductor leadership can continue and the cycle still has upside room despite high-level concerns.
Choi Ho Vice President 79:23
Pair semis with defensive Korean sectors
To pair with semiconductors, the report favors Korean machinery, electrical equipment, nonferrous metals, securities, utilities, and holding companies because they can avoid being left behind when semis lead and defend returns when semis fall.
Choi Ho Vice President 79:38
Buy February dividend record-date Korean stocks
If the market correction accelerates, the report suggests focusing on dividend stocks that can support prices. Investors can buy stocks with February dividend record dates and rotate into late-March record-date stocks at month-end.
Choi Ho Vice President 79:58
KOSDAQ can extend first-half rally
KOSDAQ reached its first target of 1150; near-term it may rest, but the first-half rally can resume with government fiscal support and policy backing.
Choi Ho Vice President 80:36
Physical AI and robotics remain supported
The government budget is rising most for physical AI and robotics, and Tesla Optimus 3 and Hyundai Atlas are upcoming catalysts, so robotics deserves continued attention.
Choi Ho Vice President 81:09
KOSPI may correct sharply later
A three-year chart analog suggests KOSPI could peak near 5,347 in late March and fall to 4,400 by May. If Fed rate cuts end and the market accepts an over-easing regime, past cycles imply a 15-20% correction, so H2 risk should be avoided.
Wang Jeong Department Head 88:35
Silver rises after speculative futures unwind
The recent silver plunge was driven by speculative futures unwinding, but spot prices did not change. Once speculative demand clears, silver should rise on fundamentals.
Wang Jeong Department Head 89:00
Global separator leader has 50% upside
Yunnan Energy New Material is the global separator leader with 35-40% market share and major customers including CATL, BYD, and LG Energy Solution. It has raised prices, 4Q shipments rose 1.5x QoQ, utilization is rising, and overseas expansion supports 2025-2026 earnings estimates; the report sees about 50% upside and global separator inventory is nearly sold out.
Park Se-ik CEO, ex-Chief Strategist 92:23
Battery inventory cycle is turning up
Separator inventory at the global leader is down to about one month and nearly sold out, which signals the secondary battery inventory cycle is bottoming and turning upward; battery stocks have bottomed and are recovering.
Up Next

This Chesley Investment Advisory (체슬리투자자문) video, published February 03, 2026, features Seo-hyung, Jin Yeok-ju, Choi Ho, Park Se-ik, Wang Jeong discussing AAPL, SMH, SNDK, ORCL, HOOD, BTC, MSTR, PLTR, 009150.KS, 006400.KS, EWY, 064350.KS, Korean Semiconductors, Korean machinery, Korean electrical equipment, Korean nonferrous metals, Korean securities, Korean utilities, Korean holding companies, Korean high-dividend stocks, KOSDAQ, Korean Robotics, SILVER, 002812.SZ, BATT. 21 trade ideas extracted by AI with direction and confidence scoring.

Speakers: Seo-hyung, Jin Yeok-ju, Choi Ho, Park Se-ik, Wang Jeong  · Tickers: AAPL, SMH, SNDK, ORCL, HOOD, BTC, MSTR, PLTR, 009150.KS, 006400.KS, EWY, 064350.KS, Korean Semiconductors, Korean machinery, Korean electrical equipment, Korean nonferrous metals, Korean securities, Korean utilities, Korean holding companies, Korean high-dividend stocks, KOSDAQ, Korean Robotics, SILVER, 002812.SZ, BATT