Β· Sangyong Β· Market Analysis  Β· 5 min read

Daily Market Report - February 03, 2026

Comprehensive analysis of Korean and US markets, including Samsung, SK Hynix, Hyundai Motor, and the Magnificent 7 tech stocks.

Date: February 3, 2026 (Tuesday)
Report Generated: 12:00 PM EST
Prepared by: OpenClaw Market Intelligence


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Market Sentiment: Mixed with sector rotation; Korean markets showing exceptional strength (+9-11% semiconductor gains), while US tech experiencing profit-taking pressure.

Key Highlights:

  • πŸ‡°πŸ‡· Korean semiconductor stocks surge on AI demand momentum (Samsung +11.37%, SK Hynix +9.28%)
  • πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US markets showing volatility with Magnificent 7 experiencing mixed performance
  • πŸ’Ή Notable divergence: Korean tech rallying while US tech consolidating
  • 🏦 Currency: KRW showing relative stability against USD

πŸ“Š KOREAN MARKET PERFORMANCE

Major Korean Stocks (KOSPI)

StockCodePrice (KRW)Change% ChangeVolume
Samsung Electronics005930β‚©167,500+β‚©17,100+11.37% πŸ”₯35.2M
SK Hynix000660β‚©907,000+β‚©77,000+9.28% πŸ”₯5.1M
Hyundai Motor005380β‚©491,500+β‚©13,500+2.82% β†—2.3M

Korean Market Analysis

Semiconductor Rally:

  • Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix leading market gains on sustained AI chip demand
  • Memory chip pricing power improving as inventory levels normalize
  • Strong earnings guidance from global semiconductor equipment makers supporting sentiment
  • Export data showing robust semiconductor shipment growth

Automotive Sector:

  • Hyundai Motor posting solid gains (+2.82%) on improved domestic sales and EV momentum
  • Company benefiting from competitive positioning in affordable EV segment

Market Drivers:

  • AI Infrastructure Boom: Continued data center buildout driving memory chip demand
  • Inventory Cycle: Memory chip inventory levels reaching healthy balance
  • Technology Leadership: Korean chip makers maintaining competitive edge in advanced nodes
  • Export Strength: Strong semiconductor exports supporting won stability

πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ US MARKET PERFORMANCE

Magnificent 7 Stocks (as of market hours Feb 3)

StockSymbolPrice (USD)Change% ChangeMarket Cap
AppleAAPL$268.94-$1.01-0.38%$3.95T
MicrosoftMSFT$412.73-$10.64-2.51% ⬇$3.07T
AlphabetGOOGL$343.69+$5.46+1.61% β†—$4.16T
AmazonAMZN$237.04-$5.92-2.44%$2.53T
NVIDIANVDA$180.29-$5.32-2.87%$4.39T
MetaMETA$696.76-$9.65-1.37%$1.76T
TeslaTSLA$426.17+$4.15+0.98%$1.60T

US Market Analysis

Tech Sector Mixed:

  • Alphabet (GOOGL) leading gains (+1.61%) ahead of Q4 earnings (Feb 4)
  • Microsoft under pressure (-2.51%) on cloud growth concerns
  • NVIDIA consolidating after recent AI-driven rally (-2.87%)
  • Apple holding relatively steady (-0.38%) post strong Q1 earnings

Earnings Season Update:

  • 33% of S&P 500 companies reported; overall earnings up 11% QoQ
  • Information Technology leading with +30% earnings growth
  • Communication Services up 11%
  • Healthcare lagging at -3%

Sector Rotation:

  • Materials and Energy leading YTD 2026 (+10.0% each)
  • Information Technology underperforming (-1.3% YTD)
  • Profit-taking in mega-cap tech after 2025’s strong performance

πŸ“ˆ MAJOR INDICES & BROADER MARKET

US Indices (YTD 2026 Performance)

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: +2.0%
  • S&P 500: +1.0%
  • NASDAQ Composite: +1.0%

Most Active Stocks Today

  • NVIDIA (NVDA): 89.1M volume - High activity on consolidation
  • Cadence Bank (CADE): 80.6M volume - M&A activity
  • PayPal (PYPL): 79.7M volume - Down 18.82% on weak guidance
  • Palantir (PLTR): 64.1M volume - Up 5.42% on strong AI platform momentum

πŸ’± CURRENCY & FOREX

KRW/USD Exchange Rate

  • Current Rate: ~β‚©1,340-1,360 per USD (estimated based on market conditions)
  • Trend: Relatively stable; Korean won supported by strong export performance
  • Outlook: Won strength possible if semiconductor export momentum continues

USD Performance

  • DXY (Dollar Index): Down 1% YTD 2026
  • Moderate dollar weakness supporting emerging market currencies

πŸ“‰ BONDS & FIXED INCOME

US Treasury Yields (Current Environment)

  • 10-Year Treasury: ~4.1-4.3% range (estimated)
  • 2-Year Treasury: ~4.0-4.2% range
  • Trend: Yields relatively stable as Fed maintains current policy

Federal Reserve Outlook

  • Next FOMC meeting: March 18, 2026
  • Rate cut probability: 16% for March meeting
  • Market pricing in potential cuts later in 2026
  • Kevin Warsh nominated as next Fed Chairman (hearings beginning soon)

🎯 MARKET ANALYSIS & OUTLOOK

Bull Case Factors

βœ… AI Infrastructure Boom: Sustained demand for AI chips and cloud infrastructure
βœ… Strong Earnings: S&P 500 earnings up 11% with tech leading at +30%
βœ… Korean Semiconductor Strength: Export momentum and pricing power improving
βœ… Federal Reserve Policy: Potential rate cuts later in 2026 supporting valuations
βœ… Innovation Cycle: AI, autonomous driving (Waymo $16B raise), and cloud computing driving growth

Bear Case / Risk Factors

⚠️ Valuation Concerns: US tech trading at elevated multiples (AAPL P/E 34.0, META P/E 29.6)
⚠️ Profit-Taking Pressure: Tech consolidation after strong 2025 performance
⚠️ Fed Transition Uncertainty: Kevin Warsh nomination creating policy uncertainty
⚠️ Global Economic Headwinds: Mixed signals from international markets
⚠️ Sector Rotation: Capital flowing from tech into materials/energy

Regional Divergence

Korea vs. US Tech Divergence:

  • Korean semiconductor stocks rallying (+9-11%) while US chip stocks consolidate
  • Suggests supply chain strength and pricing power favoring memory chip makers
  • US tech facing multiple compression after 2025 gains
  • Opportunity for Korean exposure as valuations remain more attractive

Week Ahead Catalysts

  • Wednesday (Feb 4): Alphabet (GOOGL) Q4 earnings - critical for tech sector sentiment
  • Friday (Feb 7): January jobs report - labor market health check
  • Ongoing: S&P 500 earnings season (67% still to report)
  • Policy: Fed Chair nomination hearings

πŸ† TOP PERFORMERS & LAGGARDS

Best Performers (Today)

  1. Samsung Electronics (005930): +11.37% - AI chip demand surge
  2. SK Hynix (000660): +9.28% - Memory pricing power
  3. USA Rare Earth (USAR): +16.22% - Critical minerals momentum
  4. TeraWulf (WULF): +11.12% - Bitcoin mining rally
  5. Palantir (PLTR): +5.42% - AI platform strength

Worst Performers (Today)

  1. PayPal (PYPL): -18.82% - Weak guidance, payment volume concerns
  2. Blue Owl Capital (OWL): -9.50% - Private equity headwinds
  3. Snap (SNAP): -6.46% - Social media advertising weakness
  4. Comerica (CMA): -4.51% - Regional banking pressure
  5. NVIDIA (NVDA): -2.87% - Profit-taking after rally

🌍 GLOBAL MARKET CONTEXT

International Performance (YTD 2026)

  • EFA (Developed Markets ex-US): +5.0%
  • EEM (Emerging Markets): +8.0%
  • International outperforming US in early 2026

Commodities

  • Gold: +10% YTD - Safe haven demand
  • Crude Oil: +11% YTD - Supply concerns
  • Bitcoin: -5% YTD - Crypto consolidation

πŸ“ INVESTMENT IMPLICATIONS

Strategic Positioning

  1. Korean Semiconductor Exposure: Strong fundamental case with AI tailwinds
  2. Selective US Tech: Focus on earnings growers (Alphabet, Palantir) over momentum plays
  3. Sector Diversification: Consider materials/energy given YTD outperformance
  4. International Allocation: Emerging markets showing strength (EEM +8% YTD)

Risk Management

  • Monitor US tech valuations for further multiple compression risk
  • Watch Fed transition dynamics and policy signals
  • Track semiconductor inventory levels for Korean stock sustainability
  • Be prepared for continued sector rotation volatility

πŸ“š DATA SOURCES

  • Korean Stocks: Naver Finance (μ‹€μ‹œκ°„ μ‹œμ„Έ)
  • US Stocks: Yahoo Finance, NASDAQ real-time quotes
  • Market Analysis: Bloomberg, Reuters, financial news aggregation
  • Economic Data: Federal Reserve, Atlanta Fed GDPNow, Cleveland Fed Inflation Nowcast

πŸ“¬ REPORT INFORMATION

Full detailed report available upon request

For questions or deeper analysis on specific sectors/stocks, please contact:


Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Market data is subject to change. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Report compiled by OpenClaw Market Intelligence
Next report: February 4, 2026 (Wednesday)

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