Due to the COVID-19 shock... 22% decrease in companies with market capitalization over 1 trillion won

Decrease from 189 locations at the end of last year to 146 this month
Samsung Electronics down by 50 trillion won... SK Hynix also decreases by about 10 trillion won

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic, the global stock markets plummeted, and on the 17th, the KOSPI index opened at 1640.84, down 74.02 points (4.32%) from the previous trading day (1714.86). Dealers were busy working in the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1231.0 won, up 5.0 won from the previous trading day (1226.0 won). Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has dealt a direct blow to large-cap stocks. This year, the number of listed companies with a market capitalization of over 1 trillion won has decreased by 22.8% compared to the end of last year.

According to the Korea Exchange on the 18th, as of the previous day, there were 146 companies with a market capitalization of over 1 trillion won. This is a 22.8% (43 companies) decrease compared to 189 companies at the end of last year. The number dropped by 41 in the KOSPI market and by 2 in the KOSDAQ market, falling below the 1 trillion won market cap threshold.

The number of companies in the '1 trillion won club' has steadily decreased this year. From 189 companies at the end of December last year, it fell to 181 at the end of January and 166 at the end of last month. As COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, a stock price crash followed, and large-cap stocks were not spared. In fact, the KOSPI index fell to 1,637.88 the previous day. Compared to 2,277.23 on January 17, it plunged about 28% in two months. The KOSPI falling to the 1,600 level is the first time in nine years since 2011.

Companies that fell below a market capitalization of 1 trillion won this year include Hanall Biopharma (997.8 billion won), Youngone Corporation (974.9 billion won), Kumho Tire (962.3 billion won), Hyundai Merchant Marine (949.7 billion won), and HL Biopharma (929.4 billion won).

The market capitalization of companies maintaining over 1 trillion won also decreased. Samsung Electronics' market cap was 282.4 trillion won as of the previous day, down 50.7 trillion won this year. SK Hynix also dropped about 10 trillion won from the beginning of the year to 58.5 trillion won. During the same period, Hyundai Motor decreased by 8.6 trillion won, Kia Motors by 7.7 trillion won, and Hyundai Mobis by 9.9 trillion won.

Financial stocks also saw a decrease in market capitalization. Shinhan Financial Group decreased by 8.4 trillion won, KB Financial Group by 7.4 trillion won, Hana Financial Group by 4.7 trillion won, and Woori Financial Group by 3.1 trillion won.

Other companies such as POSCO (7.1 trillion won), Korea Electric Power Corporation (6.3 trillion won), NAVER (5.9 trillion won), SK Telecom (4.1 trillion won), LG Household & Health Care (2.7 trillion won), Celltrion (1.7 trillion won), and LG Chem (800 billion won) also saw declines. Among the top 10 companies by market capitalization, only Samsung SDI saw an increase of 700 billion won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.