70% of Mirae Asset Securities Clients Expect KOSPI and S&P 500 to Rise This Year

Survey Results on the 2026 Stock Market Outlook
Among Kairos Members

According to Mirae Asset Securities, 70% of its digital premium clients expect both the Korean and U.S. stock markets to rise this year compared to the previous year.

On January 12, the Digital PB Center of Mirae Asset Securities announced the results of its survey, "2026 Global Stock Market Outlook and Major Investment Themes." The survey targeted 1,220 Kairos Members, who are digital premium clients with actual investment experience and trading history. Based on responses from these highly engaged investors who invest in both domestic and international stock markets, the survey provided a comprehensive view of the 2026 stock market environment, promising investment themes, and risk factors.

The results showed that more than 70% of respondents expect the KOSPI to rise in 2026 compared to the previous year. In addition, 73% of respondents predicted an increase in the U.S. S&P 500 Index.

This indicates that there is a generally positive outlook for major stock markets both in Korea and abroad.

When asked about the most promising stock markets, the United States (50%) and Korea (36%) were cited most frequently, followed by China, India, and Japan. This suggests that, despite global economic volatility, confidence in the U.S. stock market remains high, while expectations for a recovery in the Korean market are also at a meaningful level.

For the most anticipated investment themes of the new year, AI (56%) and robotics (19%) topped the list. Other structural growth industries such as healthcare (7%) and energy (7%) followed. This demonstrates that technological innovation centered on AI is seen not just as a short-term trend or thematic investment, but as a driver of medium- to long-term industrial transformation and investment opportunities. Notably, growing expectations for increased productivity and automation are drawing heightened interest in the robotics industry.

For 2026 investment strategies, thematic investing (33%) received the highest response rate, followed by growth stocks (23%), value stocks (19%), and index tracking (18%). Only a small number of respondents chose short-term trading (scalping). This suggests that digital premium clients prefer medium- to long-term strategic investments over reacting to short-term volatility, and that they approach investment targets and directions with clearer criteria.

When asked about the key risk factors to watch this year (multiple responses allowed), inflation and an AI bubble were most frequently mentioned. Other major risks included economic slowdown, political variables, and geopolitical risks. This indicates that investors, while expecting growth, remain cautious about the macroeconomic environment and the potential for overheating in certain industries. In particular, the survey shows that, despite high expectations for the AI sector, there is awareness of valuation pressures and the possibility of a bubble, suggesting a more balanced investment perspective is taking shape.

Junho Jeon, Head of the Digital PB Division at Mirae Asset Securities, stated, "Through this survey, we confirmed that digital premium clients are highly responsive to the latest technological changes and policy environment, while also maintaining a realistic and balanced perception of market risk factors. We plan to continue expanding differentiated digital services and content to provide practical support for our clients' investment decisions."