Foreigners and Institutions Sell-Off Bombardment Defended Alone by Individuals... KOSPI Closes Just Below 2730

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Myunghwan Lee] The KOSPI closed slightly higher on the 25th after repeatedly showing mixed trends during the session. While foreigners and institutions sold off, individual investors alone defended the weakening market by purchasing about 670 billion KRW.

On the day, the KOSPI closed at 2,729.98, up 0.32 points (0.01%) from the previous trading day. The KOSPI opened at 2,740.83, up 11.17 points (0.41%), retreated to the mid-2,720s around 10 a.m., then turned upward and approached 2,740 by 11 a.m. In the afternoon, it repeatedly reversed between gains and losses.

By investor type, individuals were net buyers of 670.1 billion KRW alone, while foreigners and institutions sold 555.5 billion KRW and 133.6 billion KRW, respectively.

Most of the top 10 market capitalization stocks declined. SK Hynix ended trading at 118,000 KRW, down 2.07% from the previous day. Others that fell included ▲Naver (-2.06%) ▲Samsung Biologics (-0.61%) ▲Hyundai Motor (-1.14%) ▲LG Chem (-0.94%). Samsung Electronics and Kakao closed at 69,800 KRW and 105,000 KRW, respectively, unchanged from the previous day. On the other hand, LG Energy Solution surged 7.60% to close at 439,000 KRW. Samsung SDI also rose 1.88% to record 541,000 KRW.

Park Gwangnam, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, said, "Secondary battery leaders such as LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI, as well as KOSDAQ secondary battery material stocks, showed strength," adding, "The target price was raised due to expectations of LG Energy Solution's investment in the North American battery market, and recent raw material price burdens were passed on to product prices, improving profitability."

By sector, medical precision (1.96%) and non-metallic minerals (1.07%) rose, while transportation and warehousing (-1.84%), machinery (-1.14%), and steel and metals (-1.07%) declined.

The KOSDAQ closed at 934.96, up 2.94 points (0.32%) from the previous trading day. The KOSDAQ opened at 936.94, up 5.19 points (0.56%), fluctuating around the 930 level.

By investor type, foreigners and institutions were net buyers of 24.1 billion KRW and 25.2 billion KRW, respectively, while individuals sold 32.4 billion KRW alone.

Among the top market capitalization stocks on the KOSDAQ, L&F closed at 200,500 KRW, up 2.82% from the previous day. EcoPro BM (0.68%), Kakao Games (2.67%), and Celltrion Pharm (0.92%) also closed higher. Conversely, Wemade ended trading at 102,600 KRW, down 4.38%. HLB (-2.55%) and Pearl Abyss (-2.14%) also declined.

By sector, telecommunications services (1.30%) and telecommunications equipment (1.26%) rose, while metals (-0.89%) and non-metallics (-0.57%) fell.

Researcher Park analyzed, "While major Korean indices showed mixed trends, the KOSDAQ turned upward as foreign selling decreased," adding, "The U.S. stock market's rise due to strong employment data and progress in Russia-Ukraine ceasefire negotiations also helped defend against index declines."

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