KOSPI Ends Slightly Higher on Foreign Investors' 'Buying'... Defends 2510 Level

KOSDAQ Closes at 814.61, Down 0.29%
Won-Dollar Exchange Rate Surpasses 1300 Won Level After One Week

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The KOSPI index closed slightly higher for the third consecutive trading day due to foreign buying pressure.

On the 22nd, the KOSPI index closed at 2,511.70, up 1.28 points (0.05%) from the previous session. The index started the day at 2,493.17, down 17.25 points (0.69%), and fell further to 2,490.43. However, it then reversed course and rose as high as 2,516.72. Individuals and institutions sold net amounts worth approximately 1.4 billion KRW and 158 billion KRW respectively, while foreigners were the sole net buyers with purchases worth 143.3 billion KRW.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, NAVER (1.47%), Samsung SDI (1.18%), and LG Chem (0.60%) rose. Conversely, LG Energy Solution (-1.12%), Hyundai Motor (-0.65%), Kia (-0.60%), SK Hynix (-0.53%), POSCO Holdings (-0.42%), and Samsung Biologics (-0.14%) declined. Samsung Electronics remained flat.

By sector, machinery (1.16%), services (1.14%), insurance (0.91%), and non-metallic minerals (0.73%) rose, while textiles and apparel (-0.73%), medical precision (-0.66%), telecommunications (-0.51%), and distribution (-0.48%) fell.

The KOSDAQ index closed at 814.61, down 2.40 points (0.29%) from the previous trading day. Individuals bought net amounts worth approximately 175.3 billion KRW, while foreigners and institutions sold about 55.6 billion KRW and 106.9 billion KRW respectively.

By sector, Rainbow Robotics (-3.71%), EcoPro (-3.45%), EcoPro BM (-2.44%), L&F (-1.21%), and HLB (-0.48%) showed weakness, while Alteogen (2.51%), Celltrion Pharm (0.79%), and POSCO DX (0.18%) showed strength. Celltrion Healthcare and JYP Ent. remained flat.

Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, explained, "The KOSPI rose while the KOSDAQ fell, showing a mixed pattern. The U.S. stock market closed lower due to the digestion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes and weak economic indicators, leading to a lower start in the domestic market. Despite Nvidia's surprise earnings announcement, concerns over weak sales to China caused both Nvidia and leading domestic semiconductor stocks to weaken."

He added, "However, as foreigners continued net buying in the electric and electronics sectors, the KOSPI attempted to turn upward."

The minutes of the Federal Reserve's November FOMC regular meeting, released on the 21st (local time), contained no discussion of interest rate cuts. Fed officials maintained a cautious stance, stating that decisions must consider all incoming information, its impact on forecasts, and risk balance. The minutes noted, "Most participants remain aware of the risk of inflation reemerging" and "there is a need to maintain restrictive monetary policy for the time being."

Additionally, Nvidia's Q3 revenue this year was $18.12 billion, exceeding Wall Street's forecast of $16.18 billion, representing a 206% increase year-over-year. However, Nvidia acknowledged that additional U.S. regulations on AI semiconductor chips for China could have negative effects.

Meanwhile, the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,300.5 won, up 11.3 won from the previous day's close. This is the first time in a week that the closing rate exceeded the 1,300 won mark since the 15th, when it was 1,300.8 won. The rise in the exchange rate is interpreted as a result of the weakening of Asian currencies such as the yen and yuan, reflecting the perception that the dollar's weakness had been excessive.

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