Why iShares MSCI Korea ETF (EWY) rose 8.26%
iShares MSCI Korea ETF (EWY) rose 8.26% on August 4, 2026 — Memory supply deals lift Korea tech sentiment broadly.
What happened
The iShares MSCI Korea ETF surged 8.3% alongside a broad rally in Korean tech stocks, driven by Samsung and SK Hynix expanding binding memory supply deals as the HBM and DRAM shortage persists.
Why it moved
Memory supply deals lock in pricing power and order visibility for Samsung and SK Hynix, the fund's largest holdings; the ETF rises on beta exposure to this sector-wide margin expansion and AI-cycle tailwind.
Why it matters
Korea Tech theme benefits as the memory bottleneck deepens, making Korean chipmakers the gating constraint on AI infrastructure capex — a multi-quarter structural advantage.
What would break the thesis
If memory prices roll over or new capacity announcements flood the market, Korean export upside fades and the ETF retraces.
Sources
- Samsung, SK hynix expand binding memory supply deals amid prolonged shortage — Korea Herald
- Korea, Bangladesh reach preliminary CEPA deal — Korea Herald
- Nol World adds hotel bookings for Korea visitors — Korea Herald