Foreigners' Net Selling Hits 2.2 Trillion Won This Month... Over Half in 'Samsung Electronics'

by Gi Yeonjin

Published 10 Apr.2022 14:01(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Ji Yeon-jin] It has been revealed that foreigners have net sold over 2 trillion won so far this month. Following net sales exceeding 4.5 trillion won last month, foreigners continue to maintain a selling bias this month as well.

Foreigners' Net Selling Hits 2.2 Trillion Won This Month... Over Half in 'Samsung Electronics'

According to the Korea Exchange on the 10th, foreigners net sold 2.2871 trillion won worth of stocks from the 1st to the 8th of this month. They net sold 1.8188 trillion won in the KOSPI market and 431.9 billion won in the KOSDAQ market.

During this period, foreigners sold Samsung Electronics shares worth 1.3744 trillion won, marking the largest net sale. This was followed by SK Hynix (234.6 billion won), Samsung Electronics Preferred (138 billion won), LG Electronics (82.8 billion won), and EcoPro BM (82.4 billion won) in order of net sales.

On the other hand, foreigners net bought SK Telecom and Korean Air by approximately 85.5 billion won and 83.5 billion won respectively, making them the largest net purchases. KT was also net bought by 73 billion won, indicating a bet on telecommunications stocks. L&F (70.2 billion won) and S-Oil (70.2 billion won) followed.

The selling trend by foreigners in the domestic stock market is attributed to the surge in energy prices such as international oil and natural gas following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which further stimulated inflation and accelerated U.S. monetary tightening. In particular, Lael Brainard, the nominee for Vice Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), stated that the Fed could begin balance sheet reduction (quantitative tightening) next month, causing weakness in global stock markets including the U.S. Brainard, previously known as a leading 'dove' (favoring monetary easing) within the Fed, made 'hawkish' remarks, raising expectations that U.S. tightening measures will intensify.

SK Securities researcher Ahn Young-jin analyzed, "Since the U.S. Congress passed a bill banning imports of Russian energy, related uncertainties will continue," adding, "Rising interest rates, a strong dollar, and unstable energy prices are still considered a triple burden on our market."