KOSPI Ends Slightly Lower at 2530 Level... "Lack of Direction Ahead of US August CPI Release"

KOSDAQ Falls 1.7% Amid Foreigners' 'Sell' Pressure

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Despite foreign investors and institutions showing net buying, the KOSPI index closed slightly lower as individual investors engaged in heavy selling.

As of the 13th, the KOSPI index closed at 2,534.70, down 1.88 points (0.07%) from the previous trading day. This marks the second consecutive day of decline. The index started trading at 2,536.22, down 0.36 points (0.01%), then turned upward to reach 2,549.38. However, heavy selling by individual investors pushed the index back down, with an intraday low of 2,528.18. Individual investors were net sellers worth approximately 184.3 billion KRW, while foreign investors and institutions were net buyers of about 112.5 billion KRW and 52.8 billion KRW, respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Hyundai Motor (1.93%), SK Hynix (1.54%), NAVER (1.14%), Kia (1.03%), and Samsung Electronics (0.57%) rose. On the other hand, LG Chem (-3.40%), POSCO Holdings (-3.11%), and LG Energy Solution (-1.00%) declined. Samsung Biologics and Samsung SDI remained flat.

By sector, insurance (1.95%), telecommunications (1.28%), securities (1.11%), finance (0.97%), and construction (0.72%) showed strength, while chemicals (-1.67%), steel & metals (-1.55%), medical precision (-1.55%), transportation & warehousing (-0.99%), and distribution (-0.90%) showed weakness.

The KOSDAQ index closed at 882.72, down 15.32 points (1.71%) from the previous session. Individual and institutional investors were net buyers of 65.5 billion KRW and 69.5 billion KRW, respectively, while foreign investors were net sellers of approximately 128.8 billion KRW.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, POSCO DX (-11.17%), L&F (-4.14%), Rainbow Robotics (-3.47%), EcoPro (-3.33%), HLB (-3.30%), and EcoPro BM (-0.90%) declined. Alteogen rose more than 4%, followed by JYP Ent. (0.47%), Celltrion Healthcare (0.31%), and SM (0.07%).

Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, said, "Ahead of the U.S. August Consumer Price Index (CPI) announcement, concerns about inflation and additional interest rate hikes were reflected, resulting in a lack of clear direction. Reduced trading volume, a weakening Korean won, and rising international oil prices also weighed on the index."

Meanwhile, the USD/KRW exchange rate closed at 1,330.0 won, up 2.2 won from the previous day.

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