KOSPI Starts New Year Slightly Higher on Individual Buying Pressure

Individual Investors Net Buy Over 800 Billion Won Only in the Morning

The KOSPI index started the first trading day of 2021 on the 4th with an upward trend. On this day, dealers are working in the Hana Bank dealing room in Euljiro, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The KOSPI started the new year’s first trading day with a slight gain. This is interpreted as being influenced by strong buying pressure from individual investors.

On the 4th, the KOSPI, which opened an hour later than usual at 10 a.m., started at 2874.50, up 0.04% (1.03 points) from the previous day. By 10:27 a.m., it recorded a 0.44% increase to 2886.09.

Strong buying by individuals was prominent. Individuals net bought 841.4 billion KRW, while institutions and foreigners net sold 701.6 billion KRW and 139.7 billion KRW, respectively.

There were somewhat more sectors that declined. The pharmaceutical sector had the largest drop at -2.2%. This was followed by banks (-2.12%), insurance (-1.96%), and securities (-1.93%). On the other hand, the transportation equipment sector rose 5.52%, followed by machinery (0.79%), transportation and warehousing (0.69%), and chemicals (0.66%).

Among the top 10 market capitalization stocks, Hyundai Mobis showed a notable rise, increasing 12.5% compared to the previous trading day. This was followed by Hyundai Motor (7.2%), Samsung SDI (5.1%), SK Hynix (3.3%), and LG Chem (2.1%). Meanwhile, Celltrion (-3.4%), Samsung Biologics (-1.8%), NAVER (-1.6%), and Kakao (-0.2%) declined. Samsung Electronics remained flat.

The KOSDAQ also opened at 968.86, up 0.05% (0.44 points) from the previous day. However, by 10:27 a.m., it had fallen 0.29% to 965.64.

Again, individual buying was strong, with net purchases of 204.5 billion KRW. Foreigners and institutions net sold 114.3 billion KRW and 87.3 billion KRW, respectively.

The ratio of rising to falling sectors was similar. Paper and wood (3.09%), telecommunication services (2.14%), transportation equipment and parts (1.77%), information devices (1.48%), and general electrical and electronics (1.44%) rose, while distribution (-5.60%), pharmaceuticals (-2.35%), textiles and apparel (-0.66%), and broadcasting services (-0.58%) declined.

Most of the top 10 market capitalization stocks fell. Celltrion Pharm (-9.1%) and Celltrion Healthcare (-8.0%) experienced particularly large declines. This was followed by Seegene (-5.1%), Alteogen (-1.8%), and Pearl Abyss (-1.3%). EcoPro BM (4.2%), HL B (2.3%), and KMW (1.9%) rose.

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