KOSPI Opens Down Over 3%... KOSDAQ Also Weak

KOSDAQ Opens Down 2.27%
Most Sectors Start Weak

As concerns over instability in the Middle East continue, the domestic stock market opened lower on March 13.

As of 9:06 a.m. on March 13 at the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI index was trading at 5,415.98, down 3.00% from the previous session. By investor type, foreign investors had a net selling position of 336.4 billion won, institutions had a net selling position of 313.9 billion won, while individual investors purchased a net 768.1 billion won.

On the 12th, the KOSPI index opened at 5567.65, down 42.30 points from the previous trading day, with the current status of the domestic stock market displayed on the electronic board at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the won-dollar exchange rate started trading at 1480.1 won, up 13.6 won from the previous trading day. March 12, 2026, Photo by Jinhyung Kang

By sector, all industries were mostly declining except for construction, which was up by 0.65%. Electrical and electronics (-3.81%), securities (-3.63%), medical and precision instruments (-3.29%), manufacturing (-3.27%), pharmaceuticals (-2.63%), finance (-2.70%), transportation equipment and parts (-2.47%), telecommunications (-2.09%), and distribution (-2.02%) all posted losses.

Major large-cap stocks were also weak. Samsung Electronics (-3.41%), SK hynix (-3.55%), Hyundai Motor (-3.26%), LG Energy Solution (-4.56%), Hanwha Aerospace (-1.30%), Samsung Biologics (-2.65%), SK Square (-3.79%), Doosan Enerbility (-1.35%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-0.17%), and Kia (-4.13%) all declined.

The KOSDAQ index was trading at 1,128.30, down 1.75% from the previous session. Foreign investors had a net selling position of 27.3 billion won, while individual investors bought 14.9 billion won and institutions bought 16.2 billion won.

By sector, the KOSDAQ market showed mixed trends. Manufacturing (-1.55%), finance (-2.86%), paper and wood (-1.74%), chemicals (-1.92%), pharmaceuticals (-0.21%), non-metals (-1.52%), machinery and equipment (-2.05%), and electrical and electronics (-2.33%) fell. On the other hand, general services (+0.76%), construction (+1.55%), distribution (+0.52%), entertainment and culture (+0.77%), and food, beverage, and tobacco (+0.81%) rose.

Most large-cap stocks on the KOSDAQ also declined. Ecopro (-3.54%), Alteogen (-3.22%), Ecopro BM (-5.56%), Samchundang Pharm (-2.29%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.50%), ABL Bio (-0.39%), LIG Nex1 (-3.57%), and Kolon TissueGene (-1.68%) all saw their share prices fall. Peptone (+2.94%) and Rigakem Bio (+3.43%) rose.

Meanwhile, on the same day in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,490.6 won, up 9.4 won from the previous trading day.

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