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Analyst: This is More Worrisome than Semiconductor Fundamentals

On October 13, influenced by the sharp decline in the stock prices of Samsung and SK Hynix, South Korea's benchmark index briefly fell below 6000 points. Analysts warned that the ongoing outflow of foreign capital poses greater risks. Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Huh Jae-hwan stated that the scale of outflow is too large to be attributed solely to portfolio rebalancing after the rise, and domestic investors in South Korea need to absorb this selling pressure. However, this may be difficult, as retail investors remain cautious after the drop in July, and institutions like the National Pension Service have limited capacity to increase their holdings. Yuanta Securities analyst Lee Jae-won noted that the flow of foreign capital is now more concerning than semiconductor profits. He remarked, 'Samsung Electronics' third-quarter operating profit exceeded market expectations, and memory prices and AI infrastructure investments remain strong. However, the continued foreign selling is dragging down the performance of the KOSPI index relative to other markets.'

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