KOSPI Ends Slightly Higher Ahead of Long Holiday Closure... KOSDAQ Rises for the First Time in 9 Trading Days

USD-KRW Exchange Rate Closes at 1349.3 Won, Up 0.8 Won

Image source=Yonhap News

The KOSPI index closed slightly higher ahead of a long-term market closure.

On the 27th, the KOSPI index ended trading at 2.10 points (0.09%) higher than the previous session, at 2465.07. This marked the first gain in five trading days. The index started the day down 14.98 points (0.61%) at 2447.99 but later turned upward. During the session, it rose as high as 2469.72. Individual investors were net buyers with approximately 90.2 billion KRW, while foreigners and institutions were net sellers with about 27.1 billion KRW and 79.1 billion KRW, respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Kia (0.62%), POSCO Holdings (0.38%), Naver (NAVER) (0.25%), LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor (0.21%), and Samsung Biologics (0.15%) rose. Meanwhile, Samsung SDI (-1.92%), LG Chem (-1.68%), Samsung Electronics (-0.29%), and SK Hynix (-0.26%) declined.

By sector, Medical Precision (2.40%), Machinery (1.65%), Construction (1.44%), and Pharmaceuticals (1.43%) showed strength, while Insurance (-1.17%), Financials (-0.32%), and Electric & Electronics (-0.26%) were weak.

The KOSDAQ index closed higher for the first time in nine trading days, rising 13.20 points (1.59%) to 841.02 compared to the previous session. Individual and foreign investors sold stocks worth 94.9 billion KRW and 14.7 billion KRW, respectively, while institutions bought stocks worth about 107 billion KRW.

Among the top market capitalization stocks on KOSDAQ, Alteogen (7.58%), POSCO DX (3.83%), HLB (3.45%), Rainbow Robotics (2.49%), Celltrion Healthcare (2.27%), L&F (1.52%), EcoPro (1.46%), and JYP Ent. (0.36%) rose. SM and EcoPro BM fell by 2.36% and 0.59%, respectively.

Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, explained, "After a decline at the start of the day in both major indices, the KOSDAQ index rose for the first time in nine trading days due to bargain buying inflows," adding, "Market participants adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of the long-term closure."

Meanwhile, the USD/KRW exchange rate closed at 1349.3 KRW, up 0.8 KRW from the previous day. Reflecting the strength of the US dollar, it rose to 1356.0 KRW, surpassing the previous day's record high of 1349.5 KRW. However, concerns over a short-term sharp rise and stabilization of the yuan’s weakness reduced the extent of the increase.

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