[Morning Briefing] KOSPI Stabilizes Around 6,900 Amid 'AI Super Week' Expectations... Investor Demand Battle Continues
1. Domestic Stock Market Trends
KOSPI Index Trend
On August 21, 2026, the KOSPI index closed at 6,912.95 points, up from the previous day. The high was 6,954.12 points and the low was 6,742.44 points, showing a steady trend. After correcting downward to around 5,500 points at the end of July, the KOSPI has been gradually rebounding and is now on the verge of breaking through the 7,000-point threshold. The KOSPI 20-day closing price trend chart provided by KRX is as follows.
Investor Demand Status
Looking at trading trends by investor type, a fierce battle between buyers and sellers is unfolding. As of August 21, individuals sold a net KRW 1.1652 trillion, while foreigners also showed a net selling position of KRW 175.9 billion. Meanwhile, institutions bought a net KRW 248 billion, supporting the index. On August 19, volatility was extreme, with foreigners selling a net KRW 3.4725 trillion and individuals buying a net KRW 4.6356 trillion. Please refer to the 10-day net purchase trend chart by investor (in billions of KRW) provided by KRX.
KOSDAQ Market
The KOSDAQ index fluctuated around the 820-point level before closing down at 801.94 points on August 21. In the KOSDAQ market that day, individuals bought a net KRW 623.6 billion, but foreigners (-KRW 283.6 billion) and institutions (-KRW 346.2 billion) recorded synchronized selling pressure, which pushed the index downward.
2. Futures and Overseas Market Signals
Domestic Futures Trends
As of August 21, the KOSPI 200 futures (K200_FUT) closed at 1,099.30 points, with a market basis of 3.05. foreigners bought a net 1,125 contracts, while institutions sold a net 691 contracts and individuals sold a net 512 contracts.
U.S. Overnight Futures Indices
As of August 24, 2026, the U.S. futures market is generally showing an upward trend.
- S&P 500 futures (ES=F): 7,691.25 (+0.38%)
- Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ=F): 29,387.75 (+0.30%)
- Dow futures (YM=F): 53,353.00 (+0.95%)
3. Corporate Credit Ratings and Major News
Credit Rating Changes
Korea Investors Service (KIS) announced the following credit rating evaluations for the following companies as of August 21, 2026:
- Korea Resources Corporation: Corporate bonds (PFB) rating 'AAA', Outlook 'Stable'
- BNK Capital: Corporate bonds (SB) rating 'AA-', Outlook 'Stable'
Market Key Issues
- SK Hynix Share Buyback and Cancellation: SK Hynix announced a share buyback and cancellation plan worth approximately KRW 40 trillion, the largest in the history of domestic listed companies, boosting expectations for shareholder returns.
- Securities Lending Entering Formal Sector: Fin-tech company Directional has obtained preliminary approval from the Financial Services Commission, accelerating the expected entry of securities lending platforms into the formal financial sector.
- Cosmetics and Gold-related ETF Strength: Amid stagnant KOSPI growth in the first half, the cosmetics sector, which has reported strong performance, and gold-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which have shown price strength, are recording high returns this month.
4. Sources and Data Limitations Notice
- Data Sources: The stock indices, trading volumes by investor type, and futures trend information used in this briefing are based on data from the Korea Exchange (KRX), and the credit rating information is prepared based on public materials from Korea Investors Service (KIS).
- Data Limitations: The provided figures and news are past data based on the writing date (August 24, 2026) and the previous trading day. They may not immediately reflect real-time market changes, and differences from actual figures may occur due to system errors and delays. This material should never be used for investment recommendations or solicitations in any case, and all investment decisions and responsibilities are the sole responsibility of the investor.