KOSPI Falls Amid Weakness in US Tech Stocks... Semiconductor Stocks Decline

On the 25th, the KOSPI is falling in early trading. This follows the sharp decline in U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) stocks overnight. Related stocks such as SK Hynix are also showing a downward trend domestically.

As of 9:25 a.m. on the day, the KOSPI is trading at 2,628.13, down 17.67 points (-0.64%) from the previous trading day. Foreign investors are net selling 112.3 billion KRW, institutions are net selling 137.1 billion KRW, while individuals are net buying 249.1 billion KRW.

The KOSPI index and KRW/USD exchange rate are displayed on the status board in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Samsung Electronics is down 0.87%, SK Hynix is down 2.2%, dragging the index lower. LG Energy Solution is down 0.91%. Hyundai Motor and Kia are also down 0.97% and 0.84%, respectively. NAVER is down 1.54%, and Hanwha Aerospace is down 1.2%.

On Wall Street, a report emerged that Microsoft (MS) has started reducing data center leases, sparking concerns about AI supply oversaturation. As a result, related stocks fell one after another, and this impact is causing related stocks to decline domestically as well.

Semiconductor equipment stocks such as DI (-5.12%) and Hanmi Semiconductor (-1.68%) have turned red, while semiconductor material stocks like Soulbrain (-0.92%) and TCK (-0.79%) are also declining. Major power equipment stocks such as LS Electric (-2.26%) and Hyosung Heavy Industries (-0.65%) are also falling.

Attention is focused on the Bank of Korea's Monetary Policy Committee, which is scheduled to decide whether to adjust the base interest rate today.

The Bank of Korea cut rates consecutively in October and November last year but held rates steady in January, so there is growing expectation of a 0.25 percentage point cut this time.

Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, said, "The sharp decline in U.S. AI stocks may dampen investment sentiment in domestic AI stocks. Since the Microsoft data center reduction issue was partly priced in the previous day, the intraday decline may be recovered, and after the Bank of Korea's monetary policy meeting, the market will show sector differentiation influenced by changes in the exchange rate."

At the same time, the KOSDAQ index is trading at 768.26, down 5.21 points (-0.67%) from the previous day. Foreigners are net selling 83.1 billion KRW, institutions are net selling 52.7 billion KRW, and individuals are net buying 137.8 billion KRW.

Alteogen and EcoPro BM fell by 1% and 2%, respectively, and HLB also showed a 0.8% decline.

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