SK Hynix IR Disappointment?…KOSPI Falls Below 6,000 Mark (Update)

Turning Lower, KOSPI Dips to the 5000 Level

On the 29th, the KOSPI index turned down during the session, falling below the 6,000 mark. The status of the domestic stock market was displayed on the electronic board in the dealing room at the headquarters of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. July 29, 2026. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

On July 29, the KOSPI index, which opened higher, fell by more than 1 percent compared to the previous day, plunging to the 5000 range. The decline appears to have been triggered by disappointment selling following the SK hynix Q2 earnings conference call, which lacked concrete details.

As of 10:20 a.m., the KOSPI stood at 5,990.01, down 0.56 percent from the previous day. At 10:20 a.m., the index had dropped as low as 5,929.35, a 1.57 percent decrease from the previous day. It then rebounded slightly, registering a modest gain at 6,060.63 as of 10:28 a.m.

After the SK hynix Q2 earnings conference call concluded, SK hynix shares fell by more than 4 percent, widening the KOSPI's loss. Aside from announcing plans to expand this year’s capital expenditures to the upper 40 trillion won range, SK hynix did not provide any specific figures or plans. The company only stated that it would build infrastructure based on discussions with clients and market demand projections in the mid- to long-term. It also clarified that, apart from the already announced investment plan, there are no confirmed decisions regarding additional new production infrastructure investments.

SK hynix also refrained from making further comments regarding enhanced shareholder returns. The company only reiterated, in general terms, that the key principle of its capital allocation is to balance future investments to capture growth opportunities, maintain a stable financial structure, and enhance shareholder value. Concerning additional listings of SK hynix American Depositary Receipts (ADR), the company simply stated it would comply with regulatory requirements, but did not disclose specific targets or plans, as is commonly done by listed companies in the U.S.

Meanwhile, as of 10:27 a.m. on the same day, by investor type, foreigners and institutions posted net purchases of 70.2 billion won and 1.4915 trillion won, respectively. Individual investors recorded a net sell-off of 1.6085 trillion won.

By sector, food, beverage & tobacco (up 5.81%), textiles & apparel (up 3.55%), transportation & storage (up 3.36%), and IT services (up 3.26%) rose. Sectors such as entertainment & culture (down 5.50%), construction (down 3.74%), and medical & precision equipment (down 2.15%) declined.

The decline in the KOSDAQ index was even steeper. Like the KOSPI, it opened up by more than 1 percent, but by 10:29 a.m., it had fallen to 691.15, down as much as 2.08 percent compared to the previous day.

In terms of investor activity, foreigners and individuals recorded net purchases of 22.9 billion won and 30.2 billion won, respectively, while institutions had a net sell-off of 58.6 billion won.

Nearly all sectors declined. Sectors such as electric & electronics (down 3.43%), non-metallics (down 3.38%), general services (down 3.35%), and machinery & equipment (down 3.19%) each dropped by more than 3 percent. Only food, beverage & tobacco (up 1.47%) and other manufacturing (up 0.23%) gained.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.