This year, 944 stocks in the South Korean market have experienced both record highs and record lows. Among these, 599 stocks first reached record highs before falling to record lows. This indicates that one-third of listed companies on the KOSPI, KOSDAQ, and KONEX have faced extreme market volatility.
According to monthly stock price data from the Korea Exchange, an analysis of stock price trends from January to September 4 revealed that a total of 944 stocks set both new 12-month closing highs and lows. This represents 33.5% of the 2,819 stocks analyzed that have recorded trades this year.
Specifically, 1,611 stocks set new 12-month closing highs this year, while 2,067 stocks recorded new lows. The number of stocks that experienced record lows exceeded those that reached record highs by 456. Notably, among the 944 stocks that set both records, 599 (63.5%) first recorded highs before experiencing lows. Conversely, 322 stocks recorded lows before reaching highs, and 23 stocks set both records within the same month.
In terms of market segments, the KOSDAQ showed significant fluctuations. A total of 639 stocks on the KOSDAQ and KOSDAQ Global experienced both record highs and lows, while 289 stocks on the KOSPI and 16 on KONEX did the same.
Several stocks that reached record highs in the first half of the year have since fallen to record lows in the second half. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, for instance, peaked at 745,000 won in May but recorded a low of 422,000 won by September, a drop of 43.4% from its May high.
Similarly, Hyundai Rotem set new highs starting in March, reaching a peak closing price of 269,000 won in May, but fell to a low of 120,100 won in July, down 55.4% from its May peak. Other companies, including EcoPro BM, Doosan Robotics, and LG Display, also recorded highs in the first half of the year before hitting new lows in the second half.
On the other hand, 322 stocks rebounded from record lows to reach new highs. LG Household & Health Care saw its lowest closing price drop to 215,000 won in June, but it rebounded to a high of 333,500 won in August, marking a 55.1% increase from its low.
Cosmax experienced an even larger rebound. After hitting a low of 144,900 won in June, it set a new high of 303,000 won in August, representing a 109.1% increase from its low.
Seojung Hoon, a researcher at Samsung Securities, noted, "The recent price declines of stocks that have garnered attention this year, including memory semiconductors, have been significant. Considering the current level of adjustments, it appears that the excessive leveraged positions have been sufficiently absorbed, and we may be entering a phase where we can expect inflows of bargain buying."
He added, "The inherent volatility of semiconductor stocks remains high compared to historical averages, but they are currently declining rapidly from their peaks. Given the pace of volatility stabilization, we anticipate a recovery in buying interest starting in mid-September."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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