AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Ryu Yuna
Ryu Yuna류윤아
ReporterFinancial Supervisory Service (FSS) & finance, capital markets, Southeast Asian affairs
Yuna Ryu covers finance, capital markets and Southeast Asian affairs.
She is drawn to the questions that numbers raise and the stories that data alone cannot answer.
Prior to journalism, she worked at Hyundai Motor Company and the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, focusing on business strategy and international affairs. She has also hosted diplomatic receptions and international conferences as an MC.

Ryu holds a master's degree in Media and Communication from Korea University, where her research focused on neuroscience-based studies of media effects. "Beyond every statistic is a human story waiting to be heard."
Latest by Ryu Yuna
  • SK hynix buyback, foreign buying send KOSPI up nearly 6%
    SK hynix buyback, foreign buying send KOSPI up nearly 6% SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korean stocks rebounded sharply on Thursday, as a record share buyback plan sent SK hynix surging and foreign investors piled back into the country's semiconductor heavyweights following the previous day's rout. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,852.58 points, up 5.89 percent from the previous session, after rising as high as 6,904.55 during the day, as sharp gains in SK hynix and Samsung Electronics helped the index recover from Wednesday's nearly 6 percent plunge. SK hynix jumped 12.73 percent to close at 1,691,000 won, rebounding sharply from a 9.75 percent plunge a day earlier and climbing as high as 1,720,000 won during the session. The rebound came after the chipmaker announced after the previous day's market close that it would buy back 40 trillion won ($28 billion) worth of its own shares and cancel all of them, the largest share cancellation ever announced by a South Korean listed company. The company also strengthened its shareholder return policy, pledging to return at least 50 percent of cumulative free cash flow (FCF) over three years through share buybacks, cancellations and dividends. Analysts said the buyback could help lift the stock by creating steady demand for shares over the next three months. They also said canceling the repurchased shares would cut the number of shares outstanding by about 3.3 percent, boosting the value of remaining shares and showing confidence in future earnings. The optimism spilled over to its rival Samsung Electronics, which surged 9.49 percent to 271,000 won. The shares rose as much as 10.30 percent to 273,000 won during intraday trading. The gains were also fueled by expectations that the chipmaker could follow with a major shareholder return plan. However, it faces constraints on large-scale share cancellations. Such move would raise the combined stake held by Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, potentially forcing the two insurers to sell some Samsung Electronics shares to keep their combined stake below the 10 percent limit. The rebound in the two chipmakers was backed by strong foreign buying. Overseas investors snapped up a net 1.14 trillion won of Samsung Electronics shares and 541 billion won of SK hynix, making them the two most heavily bought stocks by foreign investors on the KOSPI. That helped fuel a broader reversal in foreign flows, with overseas investors buying a net 1.72 trillion won of KOSPI shares after selling 3.49 trillion won a day earlier. Retail investors, meanwhile, sold a net 2.28 trillion won, while institutions offloaded 488.1 billion won. The turnaround followed Wednesday's heavy foreign selloff, when overseas investors dumped a net 3.49 trillion won of KOSPI shares. Sentiment also improved after long-term U.S. Treasury yields stabilized overnight, easing the pressure that had triggered the previous day's global technology selloff. The U.S. Treasury said it would at least double the size of individual buybacks of longer-dated government securities to $4 billion from $2 billion. Wall Street's three major indexes subsequently finished higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.22 percent, the S&P 500 rose 0.21 percent and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.16 percent. Major technology stocks including Apple and Amazon climbed 2.19 percent and 2.46 percent, respectively, while Meta Platforms gained 0.43 percent. The semiconductor picture, however, were mixed. SK hynix's U.S.-listed American depositary receipts rose 0.35 percent, while Marvell Technology surged 9.85 percent. Broadcom fell 4.61 percent, AMD lost 3.71 percent and Intel dropped 4.02 percent, pulling the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index down 2.12 percent. Despite Thursday's sharp rebound, analysts cautioned that shareholder returns alone may not sustain the rebound, with longer-term gains depending on whether growth in HBM and AI chip demand continues to translate into stronger earnings and cash flow. Across Asia, major markets also rebounded from the previous day's losses. Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.36 percent to 66,216.79, rebounding from a 3.16 percent plunge a day earlier, with semiconductor shares leading the gains. Chinese stocks posted a more modest rebound after Wednesday's technology-led selloff. The Shanghai Composite edged up 0.24 percent to 3,903.72, after tumbling 2.40 percent in the previous session. Hong Kong outperformed the mainland market, with the Hang Seng Index gaining 0.91 percent to 25,726.23. AJP Takeaways • South Korea's KOSPI surged 5.89 percent to 6,852.58 on Aug. 20, 2026, recovering from a 5.80 percent plunge on Aug. 19. • SK hynix jumped 12.73 percent to 1,691,000 won after announcing a 40 trillion won ($28 billion) share buyback and cancellation plan, the largest of its kind announced by a South Korean listed company. • Samsung Electronics surged 9.49 percent to 271,000 won amid expectations for a major shareholder return plan, although ownership rules involving Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance could constrain large-scale share cancellations. • The rebound came as long-term U.S. Treasury yields stabilized and Wall Street's major indexes advanced, although the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell 2.12 percent. • Asian markets also recovered on Aug. 20, with Japan's Nikkei 225 gaining 1.36 percent, China's Shanghai Composite rising 0.24 percent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index advancing 0.91 percent. 2026-08-20 17:53:31
  • Chip equipment maker rides surprise rally in tandem with Modernas triple-digit surge
    Chip equipment maker rides surprise rally in tandem with Moderna's triple-digit surge SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Shares of semiconductor equipment maker N2TECH hit their daily limit on Thursday as investors rushed into related South Korean stocks following Moderna's positive results from a late-stage cancer vaccine clinical trial. N2TECH's shares closed at 1,925 won on the junior KOSDAQ, up 29.98 percent from the previous session. The stock opened at 1,831 won and fell as low as 1,646 won before rebounding to the daily limit. The rally came after U.S. biotech firm Moderna and pharmaceutical giant Merck said their personalized mRNA cancer treatment showed positive results in a Phase 3 trial, marking a major step toward potential regulatory approval. The treatment was tested in patients with melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. It is tailored to mutations in each patient's tumor and uses mRNA to give the immune system instructions to recognize and attack cancer cells. Shares of Moderna soared 176.97 percent in New York on Wednesday following the announcement, sparking a broader rally among South Korean stocks that investors associate with Moderna or mRNA technology. Somagen also closed at its daily limit of 3,750 won, up 29.98 percent, while ST Pharm jumped 11.68 percent to 110,900 won. N2TECH mainly makes equipment for semiconductor production. However, investors have viewed the company as a Moderna-related stock because it previously sought to distribute Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea. Thursday's surge reflects growing investor interest in mRNA technology after the successful trial raised hopes that the technology used in COVID-19 vaccines could play a broader role in cancer treatment, although N2TECH is not directly involved in developing Moderna's cancer vaccine. AJP Takeaways • N2TECH shares closed at the daily limit of 1,925 won on Aug. 20, 2026, up 29.98 percent on the KOSDAQ. • The rally followed positive Phase 3 results for a personalized mRNA cancer treatment developed by Moderna and Merck for patients with melanoma. • Somagen also rose 29.98 percent to its daily limit on Aug. 20, while ST Pharm gained 11.68 percent. • N2TECH mainly makes semiconductor production equipment and is not directly involved in the cancer vaccine program, but investors have linked it to Moderna because of its past efforts to distribute the company's COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea. 2026-08-20 16:53:46
  • Hot Stock: SK hynix surges over 10% on 40 trillion won buyback plan
    Hot Stock: SK hynix surges over 10% on 40 trillion won buyback plan SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - Shares of SK hynix surged more than 10 percent Thursday afternoon after the chipmaker announced a 40 trillion won ($28 billion) share buyback plan the previous day. Its shares traded at 1,676,000 won around 3 p.m., up 11.73 percent or 176,000 won from the previous session. The stock climbed as high as 1,720,000 won during intraday trading. The sharp rebound came a day after the shares tumbled 9.75 percent to 1,500,000 won amid a broader selloff in semiconductor stocks. After the market closed the previous day, the chipmaker said it would buy back 40 trillion won worth of its own shares over the next three months and cancel all of them to boost shareholder returns. It also plans to return at least 50 percent of the free cash flow (FCF) it generates from 2025 to 2027 to shareholders, up from the previous plan of up to 50 percent. The money will be returned through share buybacks, cancellations and cash dividends. FCF is the cash left after a company pays for its operating and investment expenses. Simon Coles, an analyst at global investment bank Barclays, called the buyback plan a "strong signal" and said SK hynix shares remained undervalued. He estimated that the planned shareholder returns would equal about 15 percent of the chipmaker's market value. The investment bank maintained its positive outlook on the stock and a $300 price target for SK hynix's American depositary receipts (ADRs), implying about 93 percent upside from Tuesday's closing price of $155.62. Barclays said SK hynix could make the large shareholder payouts while still having enough money to expand production and make new investment. The bank expects the buyback to support SK hynix's share price. It also raised its 2027 dividend forecast to 2,500 won per share for quarterly dividends and 10,000 won for the year-end dividend. But how SK hynix distributes those returns remains a key question. Coles said putting more money into dividends could signal confidence in its ability to generate steady cash, while share buybacks may be a more practical option. AJP Takeaways • SK hynix shares jumped 12.47 percent to 1,687,000 won as of 2:43 p.m. on Aug. 20, 2026, after the chipmaker announced a 40 trillion won ($28 billion) share buyback and cancellation plan. • Barclays analyst Simon Coles called the buyback a "strong signal" and said SK hynix remained undervalued, estimating the planned shareholder returns at about 15 percent of its market capitalization. • Barclays maintained a $300 price target for SK hynix's American depositary receipts, implying about 93 percent upside from the $155.62 price on Aug. 18, 2026. 2026-08-20 15:23:34
  • Listed companies see profits more than triple in H1 on chip boom
    Listed companies see profits more than triple in H1 on chip boom SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - South Korea's major listed companies saw their first half profits more than triple, driven by strong semiconductor earnings and broader gains across industries. According to data released earlier this week by the Korea Exchange (KRX) and the Korea Listed Companies Association (KLCA), combined revenue at 634 KOSPI listed companies rose 28.84 percent from a year earlier to 2,000.13 trillion won (US$1.4 trillion). Operating profit surged 254.15 percent to 388.15 trillion won, while net income jumped 333.30 percent to 386.67 trillion won. The sharp earnings lifted their operating margin to 19.41 percent from 7.06 percent, while the net profit margin climbed to 19.33 percent from 5.75 percent. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix accounted for much of the increase, but the improvement extended beyond the two chipmakers. Excluding them, combined revenue rose 15.01 percent to 1,562.86 trillion won, while operating profit climbed 75.61 percent to 143.28 trillion won. Net income more than doubled to 133.56 trillion won. The electronics sector, which includes the country's major chipmakers, was the strongest driver of the overall increase. Its revenue climbed 80.47 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit soared 674.92 percent and net income rose 697.01 percent. Other industries also posted substantial gains. Chemical companies recorded a 203.76 percent increase in operating profit and a 432.14 percent rise in net income, while the general services sector posted gains of 237.04 percent and 361.07 percent, respectively. But the gains were not across the board. Transportation and warehousing saw operating profit fall 17.71 percent and net income drop 62.53 percent. Earnings also weakened in the electricity and gas and telecommunications sectors. Earnings strengthened further in the second quarter. Combined revenue reached 1,075.28 trillion won, up 16.27 percent from the previous three months, while operating profit increased 48.56 percent to 231.99 trillion won. Net income climbed 73.70 percent to 245.40 trillion won. Electronics led the gains, with operating profit rising 56.84 percent from the first quarter and net income climbing 88.64 percent. Net income at chemical companies jumped 139.04 percent, while general services sector posted an 82.01 percent gain. The stronger results were also reflected in the number of profitable companies. Of the 634 firms surveyed, 519, or 81.86 percent, posted a profit in the first half, up from 485 a year earlier, while the number of loss-making companies fell to 115 from 149. Financial firms also posted stronger earnings, led by securities companies. Among the 42 firms surveyed, combined operating profit rose 36.07 percent from a year earlier to 41.20 trillion won, while net income increased 32.82 percent to 31.95 trillion won. Brokerages stood out, with operating profit surging 163.37 percent to 9.21 trillion won and net income jumping 161 percent to 7.09 trillion won. Insurers and financial holding companies also saw operating profit rise 22.9 percent and 20.89 percent, respectively. Banks were an exception to the broader upswing, with operating profit declining 5.18 percent and net income slipping 4.27 percent from a year earlier. The financial sector also gained momentum in the April to June period. Operating profit rose 16.82 percent from the first quarter to 22.20 trillion won, while net income increased 18.32 percent to 17.32 trillion won. Brokerages led the gains, with operating profit and net income rising 46.68 percent and 46.66 percent, respectively. AJP Takeaways • South Korea's 634 KOSPI-listed nonfinancial companies posted 388.15 trillion won in operating profit and 386.67 trillion won in net income in the first half of 2026, up 254.15 percent and 333.30 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. • Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were major drivers, but earnings growth extended beyond the two chipmakers. Excluding them, operating profit rose 75.61 percent and net income increased 119.68 percent from the first half of 2025. • Electronics led the earnings surge, with operating profit jumping 674.92 percent and net income rising 697.01 percent year over year in the January-June 2026 period. 2026-08-20 11:22:21
  • FSS to renew rules requiring collateral for OTC derivatives
    FSS to renew rules requiring collateral for OTC derivatives SEOUL, August 20 (AJP) - The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will extend rules requiring financial firms to set aside collateral for certain derivatives traded directly between financial institutions for another year, the financial watchdog said on Thursday. The rules are designed to limit potential losses and prevent problems at one financial institution from spreading to others. They were due to expire later this month but will be renewed and remain in effect from Sept. 1, affecting about 143 financial institutions. They cover over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives traded directly between two parties without going through a central counterparty or CCP. The collateral helps protect either side from losses if the other party cannot make its required payments. There are two types of collateral. Initial margin is provided upfront to cover potential losses if the other party defaults, while variation margin is adjusted as the market value of the contract changes over time. The watchdog introduced the rules in March 2017 to better manage risks arising from OTC derivatives. Not every such transaction is covered. Certain foreign-exchange deals involving the actual delivery of currencies are excluded, along with cross-currency swaps and commodity contracts settled through physical delivery. The rules apply to financial firms whose uncleared derivatives holdings exceed set levels, based on their average at the end of March, April and May. Those that cross the threshold must follow the requirements for one year from Sept. 1. For financial institutions, uncleared derivatives held across all their affiliates are combined to determine whether the rules apply. Nonfinancial companies, public institutions and other international organizations are excluded from the rules. Investment funds, bank and other institutional trust accounts, and credit card companies are also exempt. Seven firms will be newly subject to the rules including Bank of China, Yuanta Securities, Hyundai Investments Asset Management, Tongyang Life Insurance and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance. Two companies that had previously been subject to the rules including Carrot General Insurance will be removed from the list. Separately, 165 institutions will be subject to variation margin requirements including 130 affiliated with financial groups. Unlike initial margin, which covers potential future losses from a default, this collateral is adjusted regularly to reflect changes in the market value of outstanding contracts. Four firms including China Everbright Bank, ABL Life Insurance and SBI Savings Bank will be newly added. The FSS said it will monitor how the rules are implemented, particularly at newly-added firms amid the risk of greater global market volatility. It will also seek feedback from the industry and help financial institutions address difficulties in complying with them. AJP Takeaways • The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will extend South Korea's collateral requirements for certain over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives for one year from Sept. 1, 2026, to reduce risks from transactions that are not centrally cleared. • 143 financial institutions will be subject to initial margin requirements, including 118 belonging to financial groups, while 165 institutions will face variation margin requirements, including 130 affiliated with such groups. • Initial margin is collateral provided upfront to protect against potential losses if a counterparty defaults, while variation margin is adjusted as the market value of a derivatives contract changes. 2026-08-20 10:40:43
  • SK hynix unveils record 40 trillion won buyback plan for shareholder return
    SK hynix unveils record 40 trillion won buyback plan for shareholder return SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - SK hynix will buy back and cancel 40 trillion won (US$28.6 billion) worth of its own shares, the largest such move by a South Korean listed company. The chipmaker said Wednesday that its board approved the purchase of about 24.07 million common shares or roughly 3.3 percent of its 730.49 million outstanding shares. The buyback will begin Thursday and run through Nov. 19, with the shares purchased on the open market. SK Securities will handle the transactions, according to the Financial Supervisory Service. The estimated number of shares is based on Tuesday's closing price of 1.662 million won. The actual number could change depending on the stock price during the three-month buyback period. Once the buyback is completed, all the shares purchased will be canceled. This will reduce the number of outstanding shares but will not change the company's stated capital, as the shares will be bought using profits available for dividends. The buyback comes earlier than planned under the chipmaker's three-year shareholder return policy announced in November 2024. Under the plan, it aims to return up to 50 percent of free cash flow generated from 2025 to 2027 to shareholders, with the option to make earlier payouts if cash flow increases significantly. SK hynix has now raised the target to at least 50 percent of its cumulative free cash flow over the same period, with the money returned to shareholders through share buybacks, cancellations and cash dividends. The decision comes as the chipmaker makes progress toward its financial goals, as it believes its strong business, cash-generating ability and long-term growth potential are not fully reflected in its current share price. SK hynix is also considering higher dividends through its regular and special dividend programs. Any increase will depend on its financial and market conditions, with details to be announced alongside its third-quarter earnings results. But its shares closed 9.75 percent lower at 1.5 million won later in the day, down 162,000 won from the previous session. AJP Takeaways • SK hynix announced on Aug. 19, 2026, that it will buy back and cancel 40 trillion won ($28.6 billion) worth of its own shares, the largest such move by a South Korean listed company. • SK hynix plans to purchase an estimated 24.07 million shares, or about 3.3 percent of its outstanding stock, on the open market from Aug. 20 through Nov. 19, 2026. • SK hynix plans to cancel all shares acquired under the 40 trillion won program and is considering additional shareholder returns, including higher dividends. 2026-08-19 17:42:02
  • Chip rout sends KOSPI down nearly 6% amid foreign selloff
    Chip rout sends KOSPI down nearly 6% amid foreign selloff SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean stocks plunged nearly 6 percent on Wednesday, falling below 6,500 as a rout in U.S. chip shares hammered semiconductor heavyweights and triggered heavy foreign selling. The benchmark KOSPI closed at 6,471.17, down 5.80 percent from the previous session, after falling as low as 6,400.81 during the day. Losses were widespread, with just three stocks advancing against 703 decliners, while 32 finished unchanged. Foreign investors sold a net 3.49 trillion won of KOSPI shares, while institutions unloaded 1.32 trillion won. Retail investors absorbed much of the selling, purchasing a net 4.64 trillion won. The steep decline followed a broad retreat in U.S. technology and semiconductor stocks overnight, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.22 percent, the S&P 500 losing 0.69 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropping 1.33 percent. The selloff was more pronounced among chipmakers. Micron Technology plunged 7.02 percent and Intel fell 6.58 percent, while SK hynix's U.S.-listed American depositary receipts sank 9.20 percent. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index slid 4.98 percent. The weakness quickly spilled over into Seoul, where the market's two semiconductor heavyweights suffered some of the steepest losses among large-cap stocks. Samsung Electronics plunged 7.82 percent to 247,500 won, while SK hynix sank 9.75 percent to 1,500,000 won. Foreign selling was heavily concentrated in the pair, with overseas investors unloading a net 1.04 trillion won and 1.83 trillion won of their shares, respectively. Together, they accounted for more than 80 percent of total foreign net selling on the KOSPI. Analysts attributed the decline to profit-taking after the chip sector's recent sharp rebound, with weakness spreading across global memory stocks. Japan's Kioxia Holdings also closed 12.60 percent lower at 49,950 yen. Losses extended beyond the two chip heavyweights. SK Square tumbled 11.54 percent to 1,004,000 won, Samsung Electronics preferred shares fell 7.75 percent to 173,700 won, Hyundai Motor lost 4.83 percent to 414,000 won and Samsung Electro-Mechanics declined 3.68 percent to 1,387,000 won. KB Financial slipped 1.25 percent to 166,400 won. A handful of large caps bucked the selloff. Hanwha Aerospace gained 2.71 percent to 1,177,000 won, LG Energy Solution rose 1.85 percent to 357,500 won and Samsung Biologics added 0.85 percent to 1,544,000 won. Wednesday's plunge deepened a reversal that began in the previous session. The KOSPI had surged as high as 7,216.62 Tuesday before giving up its gains to close 1.55 percent lower at 6,869.83, with the latest drop pushing it further away from the 7,000 mark. The junior KOSDAQ proved more resilient, falling 1.17 percent to close at 824.46. Foreign investors bought a net 14.8 billion won of KOSDAQ shares and institutions purchased 49.9 billion won, while retail investors sold a net 71.6 billion won. Performance among major KOSDAQ stocks was mixed. Biotech firm Alteogen gained 1.85 percent to 303,500 won, while battery materials maker EcoPro BM rose 0.64 percent to 109,800 won. Semiconductor component maker Leeno Industrial edged up 0.15 percent to 67,900 won, while chip equipment maker EO Technics added 0.24 percent to 415,000 won. On the downside, battery materials holding company EcoPro fell 1.03 percent to 86,200 won and robot maker Rainbow Robotics lost 1.60 percent to 462,500 won. Biotech firms HLB and ABL Bio declined 2.43 percent to 42,100 won and 0.13 percent to 79,700 won, respectively, while semiconductor equipment makers Jusung Engineering and Wonik IPS dropped 4.29 percent to 171,600 won and 2.76 percent to 109,300 won. Meanwhile, the Korean won strengthened despite the stock market rout, trading at 1,397.70 won, compared with 1,411.80 won in the previous session. It fell below the 1,400-won mark for the first time in about 10 and a half months, as expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike next month eased. Across Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 tumbled 3.16 percent to 65,326.42 as elevated bond yields and a global selloff in technology and semiconductor shares weighed on sentiment. China's Shanghai Composite dropped 2.40 percent to 3,894.42, pressured by losses in semiconductor and robotics shares amid concerns over the economic outlook and corporate earnings. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index bucked the regional decline, edging up 0.10 percent to 25,497.52. AJP Takeaways • South Korea's benchmark KOSPI fell 5.80 percent to 6,471.17 on Aug. 19, 2026, as a global semiconductor selloff hit major chip stocks. • Samsung Electronics plunged 7.82 percent to 247,500 won and SK hynix fell 9.75 percent to 1.5 million won, with the two stocks accounting for more than 80 percent of foreign net selling on the KOSPI. • South Korea's KOSDAQ declined a milder 1.17 percent to 824.46, while the Korean won strengthened to 1,397.70 per U.S. dollar, breaking below 1,400 for the first time in about 10 and a half months. 2026-08-19 17:05:57
  • KOSDAQ-listed medical device maker recognized for growth potential
    KOSDAQ-listed medical device maker recognized for growth potential SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Medical device maker Next Biomedical has been recognized as a rising KOSDAQ-listed firm for the second year in a row, it said on Wednesday. It said it was selected for the Korea Exchange's "rising star" program again this year, which recognizes promising companies based on factors such as technology, financial health and growth potential. The firm attributed the recognition to its technology for controlling bleeding during endoscopic procedures and its growing presence in overseas markets. Despite the recognition, its shares closed 2.22 percent lower at 33,100 won, after falling as low as 32,100 won during the session. Of the 18 companies selected this year, 10 were recognized for a second consecutive year, while eight were selected for the first time, down from 22 companies in 2025. Next Biomedical's main product Nexpowder is a powder used during endoscopic procedures to stop and prevent bleeding in the stomach and intestines. Doctors spray it onto the affected area through an endoscope, a flexible tube used to look inside the body. It then turns into a gel that covers the wound, creating a protective barrier and applying pressure to help control bleeding. The product has also secured regulatory approvals in major markets at home and abroad. It has received authorization from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japan's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), as well as certification under the European Union's Medical Device Regulation (MDR). AJP Takeaways • Next Biomedical was selected for the Korea Exchange's 2026 KOSDAQ Rising Star program for a second consecutive year, recognizing its technology, financial stability and growth potential. • Nexpowder, Next Biomedical's main product, is a powder sprayed through an endoscope to help stop and prevent bleeding in the stomach and intestines. • Nexpowder has secured regulatory clearance or certification in South Korea, the United States, Europe and Japan, providing a foundation for the medical device maker's overseas expansion. 2026-08-19 16:34:14
  • Biotech firm surges after US approval of new cancer therapy
    Biotech firm surges after US approval of new cancer therapy SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - Biotech firm Sillajen's shares surged on Wednesday, bucking a sharp market selloff, as the first U.S. approval of an oncolytic virus therapy in 11 years revived investor interest in companies developing similar cancer treatments. Its shares were trading 13 percent higher at 2,390 won in early afternoon trading after jumping as much as 29.79 percent to an intraday high of 2,745 won. The gain came despite a broad market selloff, with the benchmark KOSPI down more than 5 percent to around 6,477, triggering a sell-side sidecar. The rally came after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Replimune's Tudriqev on Aug. 6, a new cancer treatment that uses viruses to attack tumors. The drug is intended for certain patients with advanced melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, whose disease continued to worsen despite immunotherapy, which helps the body's immune system fight cancer. It is used together with nivolumab, another medicine that helps the immune system attack cancer cells. Tudriqev is an oncolytic virus therapy, which uses modified viruses to target cancer cells. The technology has been studied for years, but few drugs have reached the market, putting fresh attention on other developers working in the field. Among them is Sillajen, which is developing the SJ-600 series, a group of experimental cancer drugs designed to avoid the body's natural defenses and remain active while traveling through the bloodstream. The firm says the therapy could reduce the amount of virus needed and potentially limit side effects. It develops treatments that aim to attack tumor cells while helping the body's immune system fight the disease. AJP Takeaways • Sillajen shares jumped 13 percent to 2,390 won as of 1:44 p.m. on Aug. 19, 2026, after rising as much as 29.79 percent during the session. • The rally followed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Aug. 6, 2026, approval of Replimune's Tudriqev, an oncolytic virus therapy for certain patients with advanced melanoma. • Sillajen is developing the SJ-600 series, experimental cancer drugs designed to remain active in the bloodstream by avoiding the body's natural defenses. 2026-08-19 15:05:52
  • South Korean retail investors flock to leveraged ETFs on Wall Street
    South Korean retail investors flock to leveraged ETFs on Wall Street SEOUL, August 19 (AJP) - South Korean retail investors sharply increased their bets on U.S. stocks in July, pouring billions of dollars into leveraged funds and the American depositary receipts (ADRs) of chipmaker SK hynix amid a retreat in the domestic market, according to an analysis of Korea Securities Depository (KSD) data compiled by AJP on Wednesday. South Korean investors made US$3.79 billion in net purchases of the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) in July, making the triple-leveraged semiconductor ETF their top U.S. investment for the month. SK hynix's ADRs came second, with domestic investors buying $1.01 billion and selling $166.5 million of the U.S.-listed securities between July 1 and 31, resulting in net purchases of $843.7 million. The preference for amplified bets extended further down the rankings. ProShares UltraPro QQQ or TQQQ, which seeks three times the Nasdaq-100's daily return, ranked fourth with $350.2 million in net purchases, while the two-times ProShares Ultra QQQ, or QLD, placed sixth at $296.8 million. The concentration was part of a much broader move into U.S. equities. South Korean investors made about $4.5 billion in net purchases of U.S. stocks in July, up sharply from the previous month. The SK hynix purchases stood out for another reason. Although investors can buy the chipmaker's shares directly on the Korea Exchange, its U.S.-listed ADRs drew the second-largest net purchases among U.S.-traded securities in July. Their performance has also diverged since the ADR's U.S. debut. SK hynix's Seoul-listed shares fell 23.8 percent from 2.18 million won on July 10 to 1.66 million won on Aug. 18. Over the same period, SKHY declined just 7.4 percent, from $168.01 to $155.62. The unusual demand and price gap have drawn concerns about speculative excess. Owen Lamont, a senior vice president at Acadian Asset Management, told CNBC that South Korean investors were buying the U.S.-listed security even though they could invest in the same company at home, calling the behavior "absolutely crazy." He compared the discrepancy with pricing distortions seen around the dot-com bubble, when shares representing the same companies sometimes traded at sharply different prices across markets. Indian software firm Infosys, for example, saw its U.S.-listed ADR trade at a 136 percent premium to its domestic shares in March 2000. Beyond SK hynix, relevant data also show that the broader rush into U.S. stocks accelerated sharply in July, with leveraged funds drawing some of the biggest inflows. South Korean investors' net purchases of U.S. equities jumped to about $4.5 billion from $633 million in June. The increase was particularly striking in leveraged products. Net buying of SOXL surged to $3.79 billion from just $40.9 million in June, while purchases of TQQQ more than quadrupled to $350.2 million from $78.4 million. QLD buying rose 15 percent to $296.8 million from $258.1 million. The figures show that July's surge was not simply a broader move into U.S. stocks. Some of the strongest buying was concentrated in products designed to magnify moves in semiconductors and technology. Leveraged ETFs such as SOXL and TQQQ seek three times the daily returns of their underlying indexes, magnifying gains as well as losses. The sharp increase in such bets suggests that the retreat in domestic stocks did little to curb retail investors' appetite for risk, even as more of their money flowed toward Wall Street. AJP Takeaways • South Korean retail investors sharply increased purchases of U.S. stocks in July 2026, with net buying rising to about $4.5 billion from $633 million in June. • The Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL) ranked as Korean investors' most-purchased U.S.-listed security in July, with $3.79 billion in net purchases, up from $40.9 million in June. • SK hynix's American depositary receipts (SKHY) ranked second, drawing $843.7 million in net purchases between July 1 and July 31 despite the chipmaker's shares being directly available in South Korea. • Korean buying also increased in other leveraged technology ETFs, with ProShares UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ) net purchases more than quadrupling to $350.2 million in July and ProShares Ultra QQQ (QLD) rising 15 percent to $296.8 million. 2026-08-19 14:03:09