KOSPI and KOSDAQ Close Higher... Semiconductors and Materials, Components, and Equipment Rebound

The Korean stock market successfully closed higher on August 7, 2025, despite several external issues. Although tariff pressures were strong, with U.S. President Donald Trump announcing a 100% tariff on imported semiconductor chips, investors focused more on Apple's expanded investment in the U.S. and expectations of interest rate cuts.

On this day, the KOSPI index finished trading at 3,227.68, up 29.54 points (0.92%) from the previous day. The index opened at 3,214.81, up 16.67 points (0.52%), and fluctuated throughout the session before expanding its gains in the afternoon to surpass the 3,220 mark. Individuals and foreign investors recorded net sales of 196.4 billion won and 17.4 billion won, respectively. However, institutions purchased 108.8 billion won worth of shares on their own, leading the index higher.

The KOSPI index and the won/exchange rates are displayed on the monitors in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

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Among the top market capitalization stocks, Kakao, which reported a surprise earnings result for the second quarter of this year, stood out with an 11.97% increase. HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (4.00%), Hyundai Mobis (3.15%), Naver (3.06%), Samsung Electronics (2.47%), Hanwha Ocean (2.45%), Korea Electric Power Corporation (2.07%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (1.82%), Samsung Electronics Preferred (1.59%), SK Hynix (1.35%), Samsung C&T (1.35%), and Hyundai Motor (0.95%) also posted gains. In contrast, Celltrion (-3.36%), Doosan Enerbility (-1.36%), and KB Financial Group (-0.52%) declined.

By sector, entertainment and culture (4.09%), IT services (3.43%), electricity and gas (1.19%), transportation and storage (1.18%), and electrical and electronics (1.10%) rose. On the other hand, pharmaceuticals (-1.38%), telecommunications (-1.28%), and food, beverage, and tobacco (-0.68%) declined.

The KOSDAQ index closed at 805.81, up 2.32 points (0.29%) from the previous day. The index opened at 805.27, up 1.78 points (0.22%), and showed a downward trend during the session, but later rebounded to finish higher. Foreign investors and institutions sold 54 billion won and 22 billion won worth of shares, respectively. Individuals recorded a net purchase of 91.5 billion won.

Among the top market capitalization stocks on the KOSDAQ, EO Technics (8.92%), Hugel (5.26%), Classys (3.33%), PharmaResearch (1.67%), JYP Entertainment (1.58%), Rainbow Robotics (1.45%), and Silicon Two (1.35%) rose. In contrast, HLB (-4.09%), Samchundang Pharm (-4.09%), ABL Bio (-3.26%), SM Entertainment (-2.18%), Alteogen (-1.71%), Kolon TissueGene (-1.25%), and Peptron (-1.12%) declined.

Kim Jiwon, a researcher at KB Securities, said, "Apple has expanded its investment in U.S. manufacturing to a total of $600 billion (about 832 trillion won) over four years," adding, "With expectations that investments will concentrate on artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, and following the announcement of collaboration with Samsung Electronics, semiconductors and the materials, components, and equipment (so-called 'Sobu-jang') sectors have rebounded."

Kim also noted, "Recently, there has been a lack of clear buying forces in the stock market, and price fluctuations have been limited," adding, "Stock price discrepancies by company are intensifying depending on earnings results. Since there are still factors to be confirmed, such as the specific impact of item-by-item tariffs, it is necessary to approach the market focusing on earnings-related stocks."

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