Twenty Steps Down, Two Steps Back Up — An autumn woodland painting with a long stone staircase descending toward two sunlit steps. The KOSPI rose for the first time in eight sessions as U.S. rates eased. KOSPI 5,668.05 (+2.05%); KOSDAQ 794.78 (+4.46%).
2026.10.16
Snowshagal Daily

Twenty Steps DownTwo Steps Back Up

KOSPI5,668.05 +2.05%
KOSDAQ794.78 +4.46%
THE DAY IN A LINE Rates ease; first gain in eight sessions
snowshagal.com
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SNOWSHAGAL · DAILY
MARKET RESEARCH
2026.10.16 · FRI
KRX CLOSE 15:30
DAILY MARKET NOTE / 16 OCT 2026
Rates and AI fears ease;
but half the rally fades

The KOSPI rose +2.05% to 5,668.05, its first gain in eight sessions. The KOSDAQ climbed +4.46%, and more than four in five KOSPI stocks advanced.The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield fell 10 basis points overnight, while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang helped calm funding fears around AI data-center operator CoreWeave. The KOSPI opened +1.80% higher.Gains accelerated from around 12:45 p.m., and the index briefly reached +4.60% near 2 p.m. The move overlapped with a discussion involving Fed Chair Warsh that began at 12:30 p.m. But more than half the rally evaporated, leaving the index near its opening level at the close.Foreign investors returned as net buyers (provisional net purchases of ₩341bn). Yet the U.S. semiconductor index fell again, and SK hynix gained only +0.79%.

Lower U.S. yields and easing concerns about AI financing brought the first gain after seven straight losses. Most of the gains added during the session disappeared in the afternoon, however. The KOSPI clawed back only about 8% of its seven-session decline.
MARKET PATH / 01

+1.8%An early lift, a +4.6% peak—then back to the open

Where the market turned, and where the selling stopped

The KOSPI opened 1.80% higher, slipped to a morning low of 5,590.33 (+0.65%) around 9:20 a.m., and recovered to the 5,750 area around 10:15 a.m. It traded mostly between 5,700 and 5,750 through midday. Gains picked up around 12:45 p.m.; a KOSDAQ buy-side was triggered at 12:55 p.m. The KOSPI touched 5,809.94 (+4.60%) around 2 p.m., then retreated to close at 5,668.05.

KOSPI · 09:00~15:30Open 5,653.99 → morning low 5,590.33 around 9:20 → high 5,809.94 near 2 p.m. → close 5,668.05
5,800 5,700 5,600 Prior close 5,554.22 09:00 12:00 14:00 15:30
OPEN5,653.99+1.80%
HIGH5,809.94+4.60%
LOW5,590.33+0.65%
CLOSE5,668.05+2.05%
THE READ

The closing gain was almost exactly what the market had priced in at the opening bell. Most of the rally built during the session was surrendered after 2 p.m. Overnight relief from the U.S. held; fresh buying beyond that initial move did not last into the late afternoon. (Interpretation)The rally stalled near 5,800, while selling stopped around the open. Which side of that range breaks first next session may determine whether the rebound has legs.The KOSDAQ held on to far more of its advance. It gave back only about a quarter of its gain from the high, compared with more than half for the KOSPI.

OPEN · MORNING

+1.80%A strong open, an early low, then 5,750

Opened at 5,653.99; fell to 5,590.33 (+0.65%) around 9:20 a.m., surrendering more than half its opening gain; back near 5,750 by 10:15 a.m.After slipping toward 5,690 around 10:25 a.m., the index mostly held between 5,700 and 5,750 until about 12:30 p.m.

MIDDAY

Rally builds after 12:45; KOSDAQ sidecar triggered

The KOSPI turned higher from about 5,690 around 12:40 p.m. to near 5,790 shortly after 1 p.m. At 12:55 p.m., a KOSDAQ buy-side sidecar suspended program-buy order effectiveness for five minutes; KOSDAQ 150 futures were up 6.02% and the KOSDAQ 150 index 5.65%.The KOSPI briefly dipped toward 5,760 around 1:10 p.m., then approached 5,790 again around 1:40 p.m.

AFTERNOON

Peak near 2 p.m.; late slide toward 5,650

High of 5,809.94 (+4.60%) around 2 p.m.; near 5,730 by 2:35 p.m.; a brief bounce to 5,750 around 2:50 p.m.; then a drop toward 5,650 around 3:15 p.m. and a 5,668.05 close.The KOSDAQ reached 807.54 (+6.14%) before finishing at 794.78. KOSPI turnover was ₩20.0213tn, roughly three-quarters of the prior session and 0.85 times its latest five-session average.

The line follows five-minute KOSPI chart data, with horizontal position corresponding to clock time. Only the open, high, low and close are exact quoted values; intermediate levels are approximate. The dashed line marks the prior close of 5,554.22, which the index stayed above throughout the session.
WHY / 02

Lower U.S. yields, Warsh’s remarks—and a bounce after seven losses

Why the market recovered today

IN PLAIN ENGLISHU.S. yields fell sharply overnight. Nvidia’s CEO helped ease worries about how debt-funded AI data centers will pay for their expansion. In a midday discussion, Fed Chair Warsh offered no advance signal about the next rate decision. By Friday afternoon, the market-implied probability of an October hike had also declined from the previous day, though the change cannot be attributed to his remarks alone. Bargain hunting followed a loss of more than 20% in seven sessions, according to press reports. But the U.S. chip index fell again, and SK hynix barely participated in the rebound.

01

Overnight U.S. relief: falling yields and CoreWeave

Yields — The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield fell 10 basis points to 5.09%, its biggest one-day decline since August 1, according to press reports. Treasuries rallied despite September producer prices rising 1.3% month on month (versus 0.5% expected). Headline retail sales grew 0.8% (versus 0.3% expected), but just 0.2% excluding gasoline stations. No single data release fully explains the move in yields.AI funding — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said at an event in Stockholm that CoreWeave’s financial position was improving day by day and its cost of capital was falling, according to press reports. CoreWeave gained +5.94% after a -15.46% loss the previous day. A bounce in the stock, however, does not mean the underlying financing questions have been resolved. (Interpretation)U.S. equities — On October 15, the Dow rose +1.08%, the S&P 500 +0.33%, and the Nasdaq +0.08%. The equal-weighted S&P 500 gained +1.36%, and healthcare rose +1.86%, pointing to strength beyond AI-related stocks.The counterpoint — The fell as much as -4.39% intraday before ending -0.88%. The decline narrowed, but it was still a down day. Nvidia fell -1.84%; that divergence may help explain why SK hynix lagged the broader Korean rebound. (Interpretation)

-0.10%pU.S. 10-year yield · Oct 15 (U.S. time)
SHOW THE EVIDENCE
September U.S. producer prices rose 1.3% month on month, the largest increase since March 2022; energy prices rose 10.8%. Retail sales increased 0.8% (consensus: +0.3%); gasoline-station sales jumped 6.4%, while sales excluding gas stations rose 0.2%. The retail-sales control group used in GDP calculations increased 0.1%. All are nominal sales figures, not adjusted for inflation.
The 10-year Treasury yield briefly fell below 5.04% after the PPI release (Saxo). The change from 5.19% to 5.09% uses our own closing-yield series for U.S. October 15.
CoreWeave — Its bonds due in 2032 traded near 78 cents on the dollar on October 14, the day before Huang’s remarks, according to reports. Nvidia has said CoreWeave does not need additional financial support from it. Shinhan Securities analyst Kang Jin-hyuk said that Huang’s comments about improving creditworthiness and falling capital costs helped trim losses across the U.S. AI value chain, while cautioning that doubts about AI financing arrangements remain unresolved.
An earnings counterpoint — TSMC guided for fourth-quarter revenue of $52.3bn–$54.3bn on October 15. Demand forecasts remain robust even as semiconductor shares stay weak. Still, a foundry’s outlook is no guarantee of memory-chip demand.
Micron +1.8%; SK hynix U.S. depositary receipts -0.98% (press reports).
Russell 2000 +1.38%; financials +1.38%; semiconductor ETF -1.04% (Saxo).
02

12:30 p.m.: A discussion with Fed Chair Warsh

The event — At the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Warsh spoke with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva in a discussion scheduled for 12:30–1 p.m. Korea time. He said AI could lift productivity and wealth over the long run, but that the transition would be “very bumpy.”Rates — Warsh said he would not “prejudge the outcome” of the October 27–28 policy meeting. Coming a month after the Fed’s first hike in three years, the absence of a fresh tightening signal was seen as reassuring, according to reports. Estimates of the probability of an October hike fell from 25–33% the previous day to 13–15% on Friday afternoon, depending on the source. Yields and equity-index futures moved over the same period, so the entire change cannot be assigned to his comments.Policy stance — This was not a pivot to easing. Warsh acknowledged that the AI investment boom was boosting demand and adding to inflation in the near term, while reiterating the Fed’s commitment to price stability, according to reports.Timing — The discussion coincided with the KOSPI’s stronger advance between roughly 12:45 and 2 p.m. Asia Economy and MoneyToday cited Warsh’s comments as a driver of the broader Asian market bounce. Some Korean afternoon market reports focused only on bargain hunting and Huang’s comments, however; Warsh’s precise contribution to the move is impossible to isolate.

12:30Warsh discussion begins · Korea time
SHOW THE EVIDENCE
Event schedule — October 16, 10:30–11 a.m. Bangkok time (12:30–1 p.m. Korea time), Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
Remarks — “I don’t think it is appropriate for me to say now what decisions we will make in the remaining meetings this year.” “We have made clear our commitment to price stability, and about a month ago we reduced the degree of monetary accommodation somewhat.” (Translated from a Hankook Ilbo rendering.)
October hike probabilities — Bloomberg: above 25% the day before, versus 15% on October 16 afternoon (as cited by Asia Economy). CME FedWatch: 33.2% the day before, versus 12.7% on Friday afternoon (Hankook Ilbo). Current U.S. policy-rate range: 3.75–4.00%.
Asia — Nikkei 225 +1.39% (first gain in eight sessions); Taiwan +0.3%; Shanghai Composite +0.24% (press reports).
03

A 20.7% fall in seven sessions; just 8% recovered

The backdrop — Between the October 2 close of 7,003.74 and October 15 close of 5,554.22, the KOSPI lost -20.7% across seven trading sessions. Kiwoom Securities analyst Han Ji-young said the seven-day slide had markedly raised the odds of a technical rebound.The scale — Friday’s 113.83-point rise recovered about 8% of the 1,449.52 points lost over the previous seven sessions. One positive day does little to erase that decline.The limitation — Mirae Asset Securities analyst Seo Sang-young cautioned that credit risks facing AI companies had not disappeared; a sustained change in market direction would require confirmation in the earnings season.

About 8%Share of the seven-session point loss recovered today
SHOW THE EVIDENCE
Seven-session slide — October 6–15, excluding the October 9 Hangul Day market holiday: 7,003.74 → 5,554.22. Calculated from Korea Exchange closing prices.
Korean authorities — On October 16 morning, First Vice Minister Kwon Dae-young of the Ministry of Finance and Economy chaired a market review with the Bank of Korea, Financial Supervisory Service and Financial Services Commission. Officials described economic and market fundamentals as sound, pledged closer real-time monitoring and stricter enforcement against unfair trading. No direct equity-market support, such as stock purchases, was announced (press reports).
113.83 ÷ 1,449.52 = 7.9%. Against the October 15 single-day loss of 454.59 points, Friday’s rebound recovered about 25%.
MONEY / 03

Foreigners turn buyers: ₩341bn net
Institutions and retail sell ₩1.17tn

Who bought and sold the rebound

Foreign investors turned from sellers to buyers in the provisional close data, despite still showing net selling in an article published at 2 p.m. Institutions and individuals sold a combined ₩1.17tn, while other corporations bought more than ₩800bn. The won also strengthened.

Foreign investors · KOSPI cash market · KRX provisional, 3:38 p.m.
+₩341bn

are included in the foreign investor total. On October 15, foreign net selling stood at −₩3.624tn; Friday marked a switch to net buying after eight straight selling sessions dating from October 2, based on final counts. (Friday provisional.)Intraday positioning — At 2:03 p.m., Financial News reported foreigners at −₩58bn and institutions at −₩79.3bn. Compared with the provisional close, cumulative foreign buying improved by roughly ₩400bn while institutions’ cumulative net selling grew by about ₩600bn. But the underlying timestamps and trades by interval are unavailable; the late fade cannot confidently be attributed to one investor group.Stock-level flows — Samsung Electronics led foreign net purchases. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, SK hynix and Samsung Biologics were the three largest foreign net-sale names (press report citing KRX; transaction values not provided).The sellers and buyers — Institutions −₩683bn; individual investors −₩485bn; +₩826.9bn (closing press reports). SK hynix’s disclosed share buyback program, scheduled through November 19, is also recorded in the other-corporations category.The won strengthened: USD/KRW was 1,331.4 at 3:30 p.m., down ₩13.2 from 1,344.6 at the same time on October 15. Foreign net buying and won appreciation coincided on Friday.Futures and program trading — Foreign investors net sold futures worth ₩954bn, reversing October 15 net purchases of ₩1.21tn. They bought cash stocks but sold futures. Program trading recorded purchases of ₩573.1bn and sales of ₩170.3bn.

KOSPI net buyersForeigners · other corporations
KOSPI net sellersInstitutions · retail investors
DETAILED FLOWS
Three investor groups — Foreigners +₩341bn; retail −₩485bn; institutions −₩683bn (KRX main-board count at 3:38 p.m., rounded to ₩1bn; foreigners include the “other foreign investor” category). Combined, these three groups net sold ₩827bn. A separate 3:35 p.m. provisional report published by The Korea Economic Daily, in ₩100m units, listed foreigners at +₩342.8bn, institutions at −₩683.3bn and retail at −₩484.6bn. Some outlets reported foreign net purchases of ₩369.8bn or ₩141.4bn, without clearly identifying timing or scope; those figures may not be directly comparable.
Intraday reading — In a 2:03 p.m. Financial News article, retail was at −₩495bn, foreigners at −₩58bn, institutions at −₩79.3bn and other corporations at +₩632.3bn. The article does not say whether the investor-flow snapshot coincided with its 1:52 p.m. index level. Differences against the closing totals represent changes between two cumulative snapshots, not a minute-by-minute trading record.
Final-flow series — Press reports citing final KRX figures that include after-hours trading show eight consecutive foreign net-selling sessions from October 2 through 15, following net buying on October 1. Friday’s switch to net buying refers specifically to the 3:38 p.m. provisional tally.
Stock rankings — Pinpoint News, citing KRX in a 4 p.m. article: foreign net buyers ranked second through fifth were Celltrion, Hyundai Motor, Samsung Electronics preferred shares and Samsung C&T. Fourth and fifth among net sellers were Samsung SDI and Korean Air. Amounts were not provided.
Total program trading+₩402.8bn
Arbitrage program trading−₩170.3bn
Institutional KOSPI 200 futures+₩1.156tn
Retail KOSPI 200 futures−₩242bn
Program trading at the regular-session close (3:37 p.m.) — Arbitrage −₩170.298bn; non-arbitrage +₩573.123bn; total +₩402.825bn. Futures positioning is from a KRX 3:49 p.m. release rounded to ₩1bn. Not every foreign futures sale is a bet on a falling index: some may hedge simultaneous cash-equity purchases.
Five-session totals (October 12–16) — KOSPI cash equities: foreigners −₩10.995tn; institutions +₩3.397tn; individuals +₩4.184tn. KOSPI 200 futures: foreigners +₩2.243tn (KRX, rounded to ₩1bn).
KOSDAQ — Institutions +₩168bn; foreigners −₩93bn; retail −₩91bn (KRX, 3:38 p.m.).
Short selling — ₩1.2573tn in short-sale turnover for KOSPI-listed stocks, versus ₩1.2058tn on October 15. This combines KRX regular trading (ends 3:30 p.m.) and the NXT main market (ends 3:20 p.m.). Samsung Electronics ranked first at ₩191.1bn, followed by SK hynix at ₩138.6bn.
SECTOR / 04

Where the strength was—and wasn’t

The shape of the market, beyond a league table

IN PLAIN ENGLISHMore than four in five KOSPI stocks rose. Biotech, pharmaceuticals and medical devices led; autos, defense and securities also gained more than 4%. But the semiconductor trade was split: KOSDAQ equipment and component makers advanced around 9%, while SK hynix gained less than 1%. Battery stocks barely moved.

STRONG

K-AIKOSDAQ BiotechKRX thematic index+8.70%
Hanwha AerospaceIndividual stock+7.77%
Medical & precision instrumentsKOSDAQ sector+6.95%
AI semiconductorsKRX thematic index+5.09%
PharmaceuticalsKOSPI sector+4.65%

WEAK

Samsung SDIIndividual stock-1.85%
K-AISecondary batteriesKRX thematic index-1.56%
Transportation & storageKOSPI sector-0.45%
LG Energy SolutionIndividual stock+0.12%
SK hynixIndividual stock+0.79%

KOSPI advancers: 82.9%, up from 12.5% the previous day. KOSDAQ advancers: 84.9%.Market breadth — KOSPI: 761 advancers (including 2 limit-up stocks), 135 decliners and 22 unchanged. KOSDAQ: 1,478 advancers (including 7 limit-up), 222 decliners and 40 unchanged. Transportation and storage was the only decliner among the KOSPI’s 24 industry groups.Semiconductors — KOSDAQ equipment and component makers PSK +9.79%; TSE +9.58%; ISC +9.02%; HPSP +8.74%. All 20 constituents of the AI Semiconductor index advanced. By contrast, Samsung Electronics gained +2.62% and SK hynix just +0.79%. Samsung Electronics recovered about 25% of its previous-day share-price decline; SK hynix recovered about 6%.Biotech and healthcare — All 20 members of the K-AI KOSDAQ Biotech index rose. Alteogen gained +9.60%, Celltrion +6.53%, and Samsung Biologics +4.09%. Reports attributed some of the sector’s strength to the sharp fall in U.S. yields and gains in U.S. healthcare stocks.Autos, defense and finance — Hyundai Motor +5.58%; Kia +4.06%; Samsung C&T +7.10%; Samsung Life +4.61%; securities sector +4.16% (28 of 29 members advanced). The largest moves were not confined to AI-related businesses (The Korea Economic Daily).Laggards: batteries — Samsung SDI -1.85%; LG Energy Solution +0.12%; K-AI Secondary Battery index: just 3 of 10 members advanced. The Secondary Battery Top 10 index fell -0.27%

Sector figures refer to KOSPI and KOSDAQ industry indices; themes refer to KRX thematic indices; stock figures are individual closing-price returns. Their methodologies differ, so they cannot be treated as one homogeneous ranking. SK hynix and LG Energy Solution appear in the weak group despite closing higher, because they badly lagged the broader index.

SECTOR DATA
Semiconductors — KRX AI Semiconductors +5.09% (all 20 constituents higher); Semiconductor Top 15 +3.26% (all 15 higher); K-AI Semiconductor TOP2+ +2.24% (8 of 10 higher); KOSPI electrical & electronics +1.75% (66 of 80 higher); KOSDAQ electrical & electronics +3.69%; KOSDAQ machinery & equipment +4.77% (166 of 177 traded stocks higher); Wonik IPS +6.13%; EO Technics +5.91%.
Recovery from the previous loss — Samsung Electronics: ₩232,000 (Oct 14) → ₩210,000 (Oct 15) → ₩215,500 (Oct 16), a 25.0% recovery. SK hynix: ₩1,419,000 → ₩1,262,000 → ₩1,272,000, a 6.4% recovery. KOSPI: down 454.59 points, then up 113.83, a 25.0% recovery. October 14 closes were inferred from October 15 closes and reported returns.
KOSPI sectors — Medical & precision instruments +6.05% (all 8 higher); pharmaceuticals +4.65%; distribution +4.28%; transportation equipment & parts +4.21%; securities +4.16%; entertainment & culture +4.01%; machinery & equipment +3.33%; IT services +3.28%; insurance +2.38%; food, beverages & tobacco +2.10%; manufacturing +2.10%; metals +2.09%; textiles & apparel +1.91%; electrical & electronics +1.75%; financials +1.73%; paper & wood +1.62%; general services +1.43%; construction +1.38%; chemicals +1.24%; nonmetals +1.22%; real estate +0.92%; electricity & gas +0.42%; telecommunications +0.21%; transportation & storage −0.45%.
KOSDAQ sectors — Medical & precision instruments +6.95% (83 of 93 traded stocks higher); nonmetals +6.28%; general services +6.09%; pharmaceuticals +5.72%; distribution +5.08%; machinery & equipment +4.77%; manufacturing +4.50%; metals +4.23%; entertainment & culture +4.07%; transportation equipment & parts +3.78%; telecommunications +3.76%; electrical & electronics +3.69%; construction +3.55%; IT services +3.23%; chemicals +3.09%; food, beverages & tobacco +2.31%; textiles & apparel +2.23%; financials +1.69%; other manufacturing +1.35%; transportation & storage +0.02%; paper & wood −0.29%; publishing & media reproduction −4.04% (2 stocks).
Themes — Biotech technology transfer +6.77%; Biotech Top 10 +6.16% (all 10 higher); Internet Top 10 +5.57%; K-AI Defense TOP5+ +5.13%; KOSPI preferred shares +4.53%; KOSDAQ Top 10 +4.16%; AI power infrastructure +2.45%; Shipbuilding Top 10 +1.55%; KOSPI High Dividend 50 +0.94%; Secondary Battery Top 10 −0.27% (6 of 10 higher); K-AI Secondary Battery −1.56%.
Top 10 stocks by market capitalization — Samsung Electronics +2.62% (₩215,500); SK hynix +0.79% (₩1,272,000); Samsung Electronics preferred +5.09%; SK Square +2.48%; LG Energy Solution +0.12%; Samsung Electro-Mechanics +2.15%; Hyundai Motor +5.58%; Samsung Biologics +4.09%; KB Financial +2.11%; Samsung Life +4.61%.
Market-breadth counts — KOSPI: 2 limit-up, 759 other gainers, 22 unchanged, 135 decliners, 0 limit-down. KOSDAQ: 7 limit-up, 1,471 other gainers, 40 unchanged, 222 decliners, 0 limit-down.
Share of stocks advancing — KOSPI 82.9% (761/918); KOSDAQ 84.9% (1,478/1,740). Numerators include limit-up stocks and other gainers; denominators include all advancing, unchanged and declining stocks, including limit-up and limit-down.
KOSDAQ turnover: ₩5.7399tn, 0.86 times its most recent five-session average.
Constituent counts cover stocks traded that day. Sector returns are market-cap-weighted index returns, not net money flows into each sector.
CHANGE / 05

Yesterday’s questions, today’s answers

Checking the conditions set in the previous report
YESTERDAY → TODAY

01 The U.S. semiconductor index fell again: neither threshold was met. 02 Foreigners turned net buyers: both thresholds met (provisional). 03 The KOSPI held above the 5,450.81 intraday-low threshold and closed higher for the first time in eight sessions: both thresholds met.Korean equities rebounded without a U.S. semiconductor rebound. Lower U.S. yields and some relief on AI financing worries filled that gap. (Interpretation)

01
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index · positive close?
-4.30%
→
-0.88%
02
Foreign KOSPI cash flows · turn positive?
−₩3.624tn
→
+₩341bn
03
KOSPI intraday low · above 5,450.81?
5,450.81
→
5,590.33

01: U.S. October 14 −4.30% → October 15 −0.88% (11,581.21). Stage 1, a higher close, failed; stage 2, at least 11,946.6 (+2.24%, or half the points lost on October 14), also failed. 02: KRX provisional tally at 3:38 p.m. met both stages—less selling than ₩3.624tn and a turn to net buying. 03: Both stages were met—an intraday low above 5,450.81 and a higher close.

NEXT / 06

Three tests for the next session

What to check tonight and on Monday, October 19
Will U.S. chip stocks stop falling?

Judge by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index close on Friday, October 16 (U.S. time). Stage 1: a positive session. Stage 2: a close above its October 14 level of 11,684.38, recovering the entire 103.17-point loss on October 15 (+0.89%).

Will foreign investors keep buying?

Today: +₩341bn (provisional). Stage 1: positive net purchases again on October 19. Stage 2: a larger net purchase than today. Measure both using the KRX 3:38 p.m. tally.

Can the KOSPI hold today’s low and rise again?

Today’s intraday low was 5,590.33. Stage 1: the October 19 intraday low stays above that level. Stage 2: stage 1 holds and the KOSPI closes higher.

FURTHER AHEAD
U.S. October 21: earnings from Texas Instruments, Lam Research and Tesla (company IR); October 21: Korea Customs Service’s preliminary trade data for October 1–20 (expected); October 22: Bank of Korea Monetary Policy Board meeting; 10/27~28: U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting. SK hynix share-repurchase window runs through November 19 (company filing).

The breadth of the KOSPI rebound expanded dramatically—from 12.5% of stocks rising the previous day to 82.9% today. But the index could not hold its afternoon high. The next clues: whether U.S. semiconductors recover tonight, and whether the KOSPI holds 5,590.33 on October 19.

For the full set of index, FX, yield and commodity data, see MARKET.The Daily keeps only the figures needed to explain today’s session.
MARKET ↗
SOURCES · DATA NOTES
As of October 16, 2026. Index, sector and stock closes refer to Korea Exchange regular-session trading, 09:00~15:30 KST.
Overseas news and data are limited to information released before 8 p.m. Korea time on October 16.
Domestic investor flows use the KRX 3:38 p.m. regular-session tally, excluding after-hours trades.
Indices — KOSPI: open 5,653.99, high 5,809.94, low 5,590.33, close 5,668.05. KOSDAQ: open 772.17, high 807.54, low 764.97, close 794.78. Final regular-session prices from our own collection. The low was cross-checked against Infostock Daily; the high’s percentage gain and first advance in eight sessions against The Herald Business
. Sidecar trigger — The time (about 12:55:23 p.m.), KOSDAQ 150 futures change and KOSDAQ 150 index change were reported by Gyeongbuk Domin Ilbo; the five-minute suspension by MoneyToday
. Intraday path — Drawn from five-minute KOSPI regular-session data; horizontal positions represent actual times, while levels apart from the OHLC are approximate.
Investor flows — KRX main-board tally at 3:38 p.m. (foreign investors include the “other foreign” classification). Provisional figures in ₩100m units and commentary from Han Ji-young: The Korea Economic Daily. Other-corporation flows and Seo Sang-young’s comments: Gyeongbuk Domin Ilbo. Other flow reports: Infostock Daily; MoneyToday. Intraday figures and Kang Jin-hyuk’s comments: Financial News. Stock-level rankings: Pinpoint News. Consecutive foreign-selling sessions based on final tallies: Gangwon Domin Ilbo (October 15).
Futures and program trading — KRX investor futures positioning as of 3:49 p.m.; regular-session program trading as of 3:37 p.m.; five-session totals from KRX.
USD/KRW — Both readings are for 3:30 p.m. on successive Korean trading days: October 16 at 1,331.4 from MoneyToday; October 15 at 1,344.6 from NewsPim
. Turnover — KOSPI ₩20.0213tn, versus ₩26.8661tn on October 15 (same KRX basis as yesterday’s report); five-session average ₩23.6228tn, making today’s reading 0.85 times average. KRX tally at 3:38 p.m.
Short selling — Combined KRX regular-session and NXT main-market turnover. KRX tally at 3:38 p.m.
Market breadth — Final KRX counts of advancing, unchanged and declining stocks. Limit-up stocks are separately identified.
Sectors and themes — KRX industry and thematic index close-to-close returns and constituent breadth. Individual stock returns: Infostock Daily; The Korea Economic Daily. Background to biotech strength: Infostock Daily
. U.S. market — Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq, Philadelphia Semiconductor Index and 10-year Treasury yield use October 15 U.S. closes (own collection). The 10-year yield comparison, PPI, CoreWeave, Micron and SK hynix depositary receipts: MoneyToday (U.S. close). Forecasts, retail sales, Treasury rally, sectors and Nvidia: Saxo. Huang’s original remarks and CoreWeave bond prices: Sidae. TSMC fourth-quarter guidance: Investing.com (earnings-call transcript)
. Fed Chair Warsh — Discussion schedule: The Nation (Thailand). Remarks and Bloomberg hike probabilities: Asia Economy; Asia Economy (market reaction). Translated remarks and FedWatch probabilities: Hankook Ilbo. Remarks on AI investment and inflation: Euronews
. Korean authorities — Market review meeting: MoneyToday
. Asia — Nikkei 225, Taiwan and Shanghai Composite closes: MoneyToday (republished)
. Upcoming data — U.S. industrial production: Federal Reserve G.17 release calendar. Bank of Korea policy meeting: BOK calendar. U.S. import/export prices: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics release calendar. Earnings: Texas Instruments Investor Relations; Lam Research Investor Relations; Tesla Investor Relations. SK hynix repurchase period: company filing.