Foreigners' 'Destiny'... KOSPI Barely Holds 2400 Level, KOSDAQ Down 1.89%

On the 13th, the KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices both closed lower, pressured by net selling from foreign investors.

On that day, the KOSPI index closed at 2403.76, down 5.90 points (0.24%) from the previous session. Although the KOSPI showed a rise of over 1% shortly after the opening, it turned sideways in the afternoon and barely stayed above the 2400 level. Institutions were net buyers with 35.5 billion KRW, but individuals and foreigners were net sellers with 21.8 billion KRW and 30.6 billion KRW respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks in the KOSPI market, prices were mixed, generally closing near flat within about 1%. LG Energy Solution (1.09%), SK Hynix (1.00%), and POSCO Holdings (1.01%) closed higher, while NAVER (-1.08%) and LG Chem (-0.87%) declined.

Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, explained, "Despite gains in large-cap stocks such as semiconductors and secondary batteries, the reduced trading volume was insufficient to drive the KOSPI higher. This week’s U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) release and the downgrade of the U.S. credit rating expanded the preference for safe-haven assets."

The KOSDAQ index closed at 774.42, down 14.89 points (1.89%) from the previous session. The KOSDAQ also rose in early trading but soon turned downward, increasing its losses. Individuals were net buyers with 118.5 billion KRW, while institutions and foreigners were net sellers with 91.4 billion KRW and 29.0 billion KRW respectively.

Most of the top market capitalization stocks in the KOSDAQ showed weakness, with HPSP (-6.28%), JYP Ent. (-5.61%), and Alteogen (-4.95%) closing lower.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1325.1 won, up 8.3 won.

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