Foreigners 'Palja' in 4 Weeks... Buying Battery Stocks

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Hwajeong] Foreign investors have turned to net selling in the domestic stock market for the first time in four weeks. Battery stocks such as Samsung SDI and LG Chem were heavily net bought.

According to the Korea Exchange on the 1st, foreign investors net sold about 1.574 trillion KRW in the domestic stock market during the week from the 26th to the 30th of last month. They sold 1.5513 trillion KRW in the KOSPI market and 22.9 billion KRW in the KOSDAQ market, respectively.

The stock most purchased by foreign investors last week was Samsung SDI. Foreign investors net bought Samsung SDI by 182.6 billion KRW last week. This was followed by LG Chem, which was purchased for 149.2 billion KRW. Other net bought stocks included Naver (NAVER·112.3 billion KRW), Hugel (47 billion KRW), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (22.7 billion KRW), Samsung Biologics (21.1 billion KRW), Green Cross (18.7 billion KRW), Netmarble (18.4 billion KRW), LG Household & Health Care (17.1 billion KRW), and LG Electronics (15.6 billion KRW).

The stock most sold by foreign investors last week was Samsung Electronics. Foreign investors net sold Samsung Electronics by 560.4 billion KRW last week. This was followed by Samsung Electronics Preferred shares, which were sold for 175.6 billion KRW. Other top net sold stocks by foreign investors included SK Telecom (152.2 billion KRW), Celltrion (99.6 billion KRW), Hyundai Mobis (96 billion KRW), Samsung C&T (60.8 billion KRW), Amorepacific (58.4 billion KRW), Lotte Chemical (57.6 billion KRW), Kakao (56.4 billion KRW), and NCSoft (48.3 billion KRW).

There is an analysis that foreign investors' supply and demand is gradually shifting toward neutrality. Roh Donggil, a researcher at NH Investment & Securities, said, "Foreign investors are directly affecting the KOSPI not only through spot supply and demand but also through futures supply and demand via financial investment arbitrage trading," adding, "Since the September simultaneous expiration, foreign investors' net buying of KOSPI200 futures has decreased by -1,324 contracts, reducing their long positions, but since foreign investors' futures long positions still exceed 20,000 contracts, it appears that the stance is gradually shifting toward neutrality, if not a change in perspective." He continued, "The net selling of foreign investors in spot and futures on the 29th of last month was a result of increased disappointment over delays in Samsung Electronics' dividend and shareholder return policies. However, since the remaining funds for shareholder returns and policies are scheduled to be announced by the end of January next year, expectations for dividend expansion and shareholder policy improvements are expected to continue, which may lead to some reversal in foreign investors' spot and futures supply and demand."

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