Foreign investors resumed buying Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stocks from July 8-23, purchasing 1.097 trillion won and 468.9 billion won respectively on the Korean stock market. The buying activity occurred as exchange rates stabilized and stock prices underwent significant short-term corrections, creating entry opportunities. The shift marks a notable change in market dynamics, as individual investors net bought 99.17 trillion won in the first half of 2025 while foreign investors net sold 149.05 trillion won during the same period. Analyst commentary attributes the renewed foreign interest to improved AI infrastructure investment sentiment following Alphabet's second-quarter earnings release and raised capital expenditure guidance.
Foreign Investors Purchase 1.56 Trillion Won in Semiconductor Stocks
From July 8-23, foreign investors net purchased 1.097 trillion won in Samsung Electronics and 468.9 billion won in SK Hynix, totaling 1.5659 trillion won. According to the Korea Exchange on July 23, this combined purchase amount represented 26.2% of foreign investors' total net buying (5.9829 trillion won) in the securities market during the same period.
Retail Investor Deposits Drop 14.37% in July
Investor deposits stood at 103.8765 trillion won as of the previous trading day. On a monthly average basis, deposits decreased from 130.4424 trillion won in May and 129.8417 trillion won in June to 111.1809 trillion won in July (July 1-22), representing a decline of 18.6609 trillion won (14.37%) from the previous month. Credit transaction margin balances also decreased from a June monthly average of 37.7104 trillion won to 35.6097 trillion won in July (July 1-22), a reduction of 2.1008 trillion won (5.57%).
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Stock Prices Fall from June Highs
Samsung Electronics declined 25.5% from 362,500 won on June 18 to 270,000 won on July 23. SK Hynix fell 34.3% from 2,919,000 won recorded on June 22 to 1,919,000 won on July 23.
Alphabet Raises Capital Expenditure Guidance to $195-205 Billion
Alphabet's second-quarter revenue reached $119.8 billion and earnings per share hit $9.11, both exceeding market expectations. The company raised its capital expenditure plan for the year from the previous $180-190 billion to $195-205 billion. Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated that Alphabet's guidance increase resulted from demand growth, noting that growth momentum in core businesses including cloud is improving. Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, stated that Alphabet's cloud revenue increase and capital expenditure expansion reconfirmed robust AI infrastructure demand and the trend of expanding data center investment.
FAQ
How much did foreign investors purchase in Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix from July 8-23?
Foreign investors net purchased 1.097 trillion won in Samsung Electronics and 468.9 billion won in SK Hynix from July 8-23, totaling 1.5659 trillion won. This combined amount represented 26.2% of foreign investors' total net buying in the securities market during the same period.
How much did Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix stock prices decline from their June highs?
Samsung Electronics fell 25.5% from 362,500 won on June 18 to 270,000 won on July 23. SK Hynix dropped 34.3% from 2,919,000 won on June 22 to 1,919,000 won on July 23.
What capital expenditure guidance did Alphabet announce for the year?
Alphabet raised its capital expenditure plan for the year from the previous $180-190 billion to $195-205 billion, reflecting expanded AI infrastructure investment.
