Foreigners and Institutions Sell Together... KOSPI and KOSDAQ Fall by Over 1%

Net Buying Exceeds 1 Trillion Won in Individual Yang Market
Foreign Demand Changes Amid Delta Variant Spread and Options Expiration
Preference for Safe Assets... Exchange Rate Surpasses 1140 Won

Kakao Games Rises Over 6%... Market Cap Ranks 2nd

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] The KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices fell by more than 1% due to selling pressure from foreigners and institutions. Although individual investors purchased over 1 trillion won worth of domestic stocks, it was insufficient to prevent the index decline.

On the 8th, the KOSPI closed at 3,252.68, down 0.99% (32.66 points) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 3,287.68, up 0.07% (2.34 points) influenced by the strong U.S. stock market, but soon turned downward.

Looking at investor trends, individuals bought stocks worth 1.0766 trillion won in the KOSPI market, while foreigners and institutions sold stocks worth 480.9 billion won and 623.3 billion won, respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Kakao (1.24%), NAVER (1.08%), and Samsung Biologics (2.13%) rose. Samsung Electronics (-1.11%), SK Hynix (-1.62%), LG Chem (-1.49%), Samsung SDI (-2.27%), and Hyundai Motor (-1.08%) declined.

The index movement was analyzed to be influenced by safe-haven asset preference due to concerns over the spread of the Delta variant and changes in foreign investors' supply and demand on options expiration day. Due to the strong dollar, the won-dollar exchange rate surged to the mid-1140 won range. Seosangyoung, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, explained, “Foreigners, who maintained net buying early in the session, increased net selling after the declaration of a state of emergency in Tokyo, Japan. Additionally, on options expiration day, they engaged in net futures selling, pulling the index down.”

The KOSDAQ index also closed at 1,034.48, down 1.23% (12.88 points) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 1,047.96, up 0.07% (0.69 points), but profit-taking selling pressure followed after the index had risen sharply, continuing the downward trend. Regarding investor trends, individuals alone bought stocks worth 364 billion won, while foreigners and institutions sold stocks worth 204.8 billion won and 145.9 billion won, respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Celltrion Healthcare traded at 112,100 won, down 1.84% from the previous day. Kakao Games, which was third in market capitalization, rose 6.36% on the day, overtaking Celltrion Pharm to become the second largest by market capitalization.

Additionally, Pearl Abyss (1.02%), Seegene (0.78%), and HL Biopharma (0.43%) rose, while EcoPro BM (-0.5%), CJ ENM (-0.11%), and Alteogen (-3.5%) declined.

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