KOSPI Turns Lower in Early Trading on Short-Term Peak Fatigue... KOSDAQ Rises

The KOSPI, which opened higher, reversed course and declined in early trading due to short-term peak fatigue and other factors.

On the 23rd, amid optimism over the resumption of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran leading to strong closes of the three major indices on the New York Stock Exchange, the KOSPI also broke through the 6550 level during the session, setting an all-time high. An employee is monitoring the stock market and exchange rates in the dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. 2026.4.23 Photo by Cho Yongjun

As of 9:15 a.m. on April 24, the KOSPI was trading at 6,467.21, down 8.60 points (0.13%) from the previous session.

By investor type, foreign investors recorded a net selling of 227.9 billion won. In contrast, retail investors and institutions posted net purchases of 122.7 billion won and 96.1 billion won, respectively.

By sector, performance was mixed. Construction (-1.42%), insurance (-1.18%), IT services (-1.02%), and transportation and warehousing (-0.58%) were declining, while machinery and equipment (+1.46%), entertainment and culture (+0.98%), chemicals (+0.92%), and telecommunications (+0.78%) were rising.

Among the top 20 stocks by market capitalization, results were also mixed. Hyundai Motor (-2.82%), Samsung C&T (-2.34%), Kia (-1.96%), and Samsung Electronics (-1.67%) were falling. In contrast, HD Hyundai Electric (+6.20%), Hanwha Aerospace (+5.47%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (+3.43%), and Samsung SDI (+3.17%) were advancing.

The KOSDAQ was trading at 1,175.36, up 1.05 points (0.09%) from the previous session.

By investor type, retail investors were net buyers of 37 billion won, while institutions and foreign investors were net sellers of 25.6 billion won and 1.7 billion won, respectively.

By sector, more categories were rising than falling. Chemicals (+1.57%), paper and lumber (+1.43%), distribution (+1.07%), and other manufacturing (+0.99%) saw gains. In contrast, construction (-1.31%), telecommunications (-0.71%), IT services (-0.32%), and electrical and electronics (-0.16%) were declining.

Among the top 20 stocks by market capitalization, more were declining than rising. Caregen (-5.26%), Voronoi (-4.11%), Woori Technology (-2.56%), and Leeno Industrial (-2.51%) were down. On the other hand, Classys (+2.95%), Samchundang Pharm (+2.24%), Peptron (+1.98%), and Ecopro BM (+0.73%) were up.

On the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,483.0 won, up 2.0 won from the previous trading day.

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