KOSPI Rises Amid Middle East-Driven Volatility, While KOSDAQ Falls

Individuals and Institutions Drive KOSPI, Individuals Lead KOSDAQ Buying
More Sectors See Declines Than Gains

Amid heightened volatility in the domestic stock market due to rising tensions in the Middle East, the KOSPI, which had fallen for two consecutive days, made a slight rebound. Although the KOSPI started the day on an upward trend, it eventually reversed and declined during the session.

As concerns over the prolonged situation in the Middle East grow, the KOSPI started the day by recovering the 5500 level. On the 16th, employees at the Seoul Hana Bank headquarters dealing room were monitoring the stock market and exchange rates. On that day, the KOSPI opened at 5510.82, up 23.58 points (0.43%) from the previous trading day. March 16, 2026 Photo by Jo Yongjun

On March 16, 2026, the KOSPI closed at 5,459.85, up 62.61 points (1.14%) from the previous session.

By investor type, individuals and institutions drove the index higher. Individuals made net purchases amounting to 718.6 billion won, and institutions purchased a net 88.6 billion won, while foreign investors sold a net 851.4 billion won.

By sector, electrical and electronics (+3.49%), manufacturing (+1.68%), securities (+1.25%), medical precision instruments (+0.93%), telecommunications (+0.56%), and financials (+0.20%) rose. However, more sectors saw declines, including electric and gas (-2.81%), construction (-2.66%), chemicals (-2.22%), entertainment and culture (-2.04%), transportation equipment and parts (-1.89%), pharmaceuticals (-1.86%), IT services (-1.63%), machinery and equipment (-1.51%), general services (-1.44%), paper and wood (-1.33%), and food, beverages, and tobacco (-1.24%).

Among the top 20 market capitalization stocks, more companies saw declines, but the magnitude of gains among the rising stocks was greater. SK hynix (+7.03%), SK Square (+5.24%), Samsung Electronics (preferred shares) (+3.29%), Samsung Electronics (+2.84%), and Mirae Asset Securities (+2.46%) were among the six companies that saw their share prices rise. In contrast, Hanwha Ocean (-3.65%), Celltrion (-2.68%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-2.18%), Hyundai Motor (-2.13%), Samsung Life Insurance (-1.85%), Samsung Biologics (-1.51%), Kia (-1.40%), and Shinhan Financial Group (-0.88%), among 14 others, saw share price declines.

The KOSDAQ closed at 1,138.31, down 14.65 points (1.27%) from the previous session.

By investor type, individuals were active buyers, but the selling pressure from foreign investors and institutions was stronger. Foreign investors and institutions recorded net sales of 500.7 billion won and 171.7 billion won, respectively, while individuals made net purchases of 712.4 billion won.

Most sectors declined. Textile and apparel (-3.47%), general services (-2.63%), construction (-2.52%), transportation equipment and parts (-2.18%), financials (-2.16%), publishing and media replication (-2.13%), pharmaceuticals (-1.72%), and transportation and storage (-1.61%) saw notable drops. In contrast, distribution (+2.80%) and IT services (+0.46%) recorded gains.

Among the top 20 market capitalization stocks on the KOSDAQ, more companies posted declines. AimedBio (-7.35%), Samchundang Pharm (-5.44%), D&D Pharmatech (-5.09%), Voronoi (-4.40%), Rainbow Robotics (-4.13%), and Caregen (-3.19%) ended lower. Meanwhile, ISC (+18.66%), Peptron (+6.21%), Pearl Abyss (+4.10%), and HLB (+0.93%) rose.

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