KOSPI Ends Lower on Options Expiration Day

The KOSPI index closed lower as volatility increased on the options expiration day.

On the 9th, the KOSPI index closed at 2419.09, down 12.82 points (0.53%) from the previous day. Trading volume was 465.33 million shares, and trading value reached 10.1747 trillion KRW.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

By investor type, institutions and foreigners net bought 581.2 billion KRW and 359.2 billion KRW respectively, while foreigners recorded a net selling dominance of 973.1 billion KRW. Program trading saw net selling of 105.7 billion KRW in arbitrage trading and 380.7 billion KRW in non-arbitrage trading.

That day, the KOSPI index started higher, supported by the previous day’s U.S. stock market despite hawkish remarks from Jerome Powell, Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), as wage growth slowdown was confirmed based on employment data, and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index showed strength.

However, during the session, volatility expanded due to the options expiration day, and the index turned bearish. Additionally, news that Tesla’s Model Y is under investigation by U.S. authorities due to mechanical defects dampened overall investor sentiment in secondary battery stocks.

By sector, more sectors declined. Non-metallic minerals fell 2.84%, chemicals -1.48%, steel and metals -1.36%, electrical and electronics -1.05%, medical precision -0.88%, manufacturing -0.82%, and transportation and warehousing -0.64%. Conversely, construction rose 1.73%, insurance 1.61%, telecommunications 1.36%, and machinery 1.14%, closing the session stronger.

Most of the top market capitalization stocks were weak. Samsung Electronics remained slightly down by 0.33%, LG Energy Solution -2.31%, SK Hynix -1.38%, Samsung Biologics -0.77%, Samsung SDI -2.92%, and LG Chem -0.7% all recorded declines. On the other hand, Hyundai Motor rose 0.8%, and Celltrion also closed strong with a 1.88% gain.

On the same day, the KOSDAQ index fell as institutions and foreigners both sold. The KOSDAQ index closed at 809.22, down 4.73 points (0.58%) from the previous day. Trading volume was 1.34665 billion shares, and trading value was 11.4979 trillion KRW.

Among the top market capitalization stocks on the KOSDAQ, most secondary battery-related stocks were weak. EcoPro BM fell 1.91%, EcoPro -2.1%, and L&F -6.3%. SM, which is in a management rights dispute, also closed down 2.27%. Conversely, Celltrion Healthcare rose 0.94%, HLB 8.22%, and Celltrion Pharm 3.88%, closing strong.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won/dollar exchange rate closed at 1322.2 won, up 0.8 won from the previous day.

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