KOSPI Closed Lower After Giving Up Gains... Trapped in a Box Range but Maintained the 3150 Level

On the 21st, the KOSPI index opened at 3,171.91, up 9.63 points (0.30%) from the previous trading day, as dealers were working in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the USD-KRW exchange rate started trading at 1,128.0 won, down 4.0 won from the previous trading day. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] The domestic stock market, which started higher buoyed by the rise in the US New York stock market, ended lower after giving up all its gains. The market showed a range-bound trend with continuous fluctuations.

On the 21st, the KOSPI index closed at 3,156.42, down 5.86 points (0.19%) from the previous day. It opened at 3,171.91, up 9.63 points (0.3%) from the previous day, and touched the 3,190 level. However, it soon turned downward, giving up its gains and closing lower.

Foreign investors sold a net 130.4 billion KRW. Individuals and institutions bought a net 57.7 billion KRW and 59.6 billion KRW, respectively.

Among the top 10 KOSPI market cap stocks, Samsung Biologics (-3.37%), LG Chem (-1.00%), Celltrion (-0.56%), and Samsung Electronics Preferred (-0.27%) declined. Kakao (3.08%), NAVER (2.56%), Hyundai Motor (1.34%), Samsung SDI (1.10%), and Samsung Electronics (0.75%) rose.

By sector, the declining sectors included banks (-2.78%), construction (-1.75%), textiles and apparel (-1.6%), distribution (-1.57%), pharmaceuticals (-1.54%), small caps (-1.47%), and finance (-1.41%). The sectors that rose were services (1.07%), transportation equipment (0.99%), and electrical and electronics (0.68%).

The KOSDAQ index closed at 965.63, down 5.50 points (0.57%) from the previous day. KOSDAQ also opened higher at 972.30, up 1.17 points (0.12%) from the previous day, but the decline widened.

Foreign investors and institutions sold a net 77.8 billion KRW and 12.1 billion KRW, respectively. Individuals bought a net 100.9 billion KRW.

Among the top 10 KOSDAQ market cap stocks, Seegene (-4.25%), EcoPro BM (-1.59%), Celltrion Healthcare (-1.46%), Celltrion Pharm (-1.40%), CJ ENM (-1.05%), and Alteogen (-0.14%) declined. HL Biopharma (1.10%), Pearl Abyss (0.85%), SK Materials (0.64%), and Kakao Games (0.59%) rose.

By sector, the declining sectors included non-metallic minerals (-1.59%), distribution (-1.5%), transportation (-1.49%), entertainment and culture (-1.37%), and finance (-1.34%). The sectors that rose were computer services (2.21%), telecommunications services (1.57%), medical/precision instruments (0.6%), transportation equipment/parts (0.27%), and digital content (0.23%).

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,127.00 KRW per dollar, down 5.00 KRW from the previous day's closing price.

Kim Seong-geun and Kim Dae-jun, researchers at Korea Investment & Securities, said, "The KOSPI is expected to move sideways between 3,120 and 3,200," adding, "However, since the Federal Reserve is still paying attention to liquidity, it is difficult to say that the market has fully shifted to a bearish trend."

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