Kosdaq Down 3.52%, Semiconductors and Healthcare Both -3.82%

TL;DR

• (As of capture) 2026-08-19 08:20 KST, based on August 18 closing prices, Kosdaq plunged 3.52% and Kospi fell 1.55%.
• By sector, domestic IT·semiconductors and healthcare each weakened by 3.82%, while in the US energy (+3.99%), utilities (+2.43%), and IT·semiconductors (+2.15%) outperformed.

What happened

At yesterday's close (August 18), Kosdaq dropped 3.52%, marking a sharp correction. Kospi also declined 1.55%. Domestically, IT·semiconductors and healthcare each recorded 3.82% weakness, with communication, energy, and utilities also in negative territory. By contrast, the US market showed relative strength in energy and utilities and in IT·semiconductors, creating a notable divergence with domestic flows.

Market headlines highlighted crypto ETF fund flows and related industry news, Nvidia and AI expectation and valuation debates, and moves in government bond yields. On Polymarket, a 'No' bet on a September Fed rate cut dominates at 99%. On crypto, a 'No' bet on year-end Bitcoin decline stands at 78%.

By the numbers

• Indices (closing): Kosdaq 834.20 (-3.52%), Kospi 6,869.83 (-1.55%), capture time 2026-08-19 08:20 KST reflects August 18 closing prices.
• Domestic sectors (latest trading day): IT·semiconductors -3.82%, healthcare -3.82%, communication -3.12%, energy -1.50%, utilities -0.94%, real estate -0.82%.
• US sectors (latest trading day): energy +3.99%, utilities +2.43%, IT·semiconductors +2.15%, communication -0.90%, materials -1.77%, consumer discretionary -2.44%.

The domestic weakness was concentrated in Kosdaq and tech and healthcare sectors. Meanwhile, the US strength in semiconductors and some IT areas indicates a gap between global momentum and domestic order flow. Crypto ETF weekly flows, changes in bond yields, and news around Nvidia and Apple also contributed to short-term volatility.

PickStock checkpoints

• Early session order flow: watch whether Kosdaq continues to fall sharply or shows attempts to rebound after the open.
• Leader flow within semiconductors and healthcare: confirm if yesterday's sector declines were confined to specific names or reflected broad weakness.
• Post-US session momentum: observe how US strength in semiconductors and energy affects Asian market opens.
• Crypto ETF flows and related stocks: monitor inflows or outflows in Bitcoin ETFs and any short-term volatility linkage.
• Rate outlook and government yields: note Polymarket's 'No' bet on a September Fed cut (99%) and changes in market rate sensitivity.

The early session should focus on confirming yesterday's weakness and the sectoral divergence with the US. Verify short-term order flow and news momentum closely. My Stock Radar

This article is for information only and is not investment advice.