Shinhan Asset Recommends Barbell Strategy of Semiconductors and Financials Amid H2 Volatility

According to an interview with Hankyung, Shinhan Asset Management's ETF business head Kim Jung-hyun recommended a barbell strategy on July 21 allocating investment across semiconductor and financial stocks to navigate anticipated market volatility in the second half of 2026. Kim suggested structuring the portfolio with stocks and cash in a 7-to-3 ratio, then dividing the stock portion between semiconductor leaders and high-dividend financial stocks in a 6-to-4 split.

Kim noted that late-July earnings reports from major technology companies will be a watershed moment for the semiconductor sector. He expects that if big tech firms exceed market expectations on capital expenditure plans and increase artificial intelligence investment guidance, semiconductor stocks could rebound sharply. Shinhan Asset also highlighted its SOL AI Semiconductor Top 2 Plus and SOL Financial Holding Plus High Dividend ETF products as tools for executing this strategy amid elevated market volatility.