On the 22nd, the KOSPI saw renewed investment sentiment for semiconductors following positive reviews of Meta's AI agent, but it surrendered its morning gains and closed slightly higher after hitting a wall of rising oil prices. The KOSDAQ closed lower than the previous trading day amid outflows by foreign investors and institutional investors.
The KOSPI closed at 7,017.91, up 10.19 points (0.15%) from the previous trading day. Having recovered to the "7,000 level" the day before, the KOSPI opened at 7,161.61, up 153.89 points (2.20%), and settled around the 7,100 mark early in the session.
However, rising oil futures in the afternoon highlighted macroeconomic concerns, narrowing the gains and resulting in a slightly higher close. Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, stated, "Meta's AI agent 'Muse' topped the U.S. app store charts, achieving commercial success and strengthening domestic investment sentiment toward the AI semiconductor value chain." He added, "However, WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude oil futures rebounded from a low of $91, leading the domestic stock market to show a pattern of strong opening followed by weakness."
Samsung Electronics, which had recovered to the "280,000 won" level, closed at 275,000 won, up 1,500 won (0.55%) from the previous trading day. SK Hynix rose over 3% early in the session but closed down 34,000 won (1.82%) at 1,834,000 won.
Among other top market capitalization stocks, Hyundai Motor closed slightly higher, while LG Energy Solution, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Life Insurance, and Hanwha Aerospace closed nearly flat.
By sector, construction rose over 2% on expectations of benefiting from U.S.-related investments, and AI software showed strength, lifting IT services by over 2%. Transportation and warehousing rose over 2%, while machinery and equipment and securities each gained around 1%. Real estate, medical devices and precision instruments, telecommunications, finance, food and tobacco, and manufacturing closed slightly higher. Insurance, retail, chemicals, and metals closed nearly flat; pharmaceuticals fell around 1%; and entertainment and culture declined by over 2%.
In the KOSPI, foreign investors were net buyers, while individual investors and institutional investors were net sellers. According to the Korea Exchange, as of 4:29 p.m., foreign investors bought net 65.3 billion won, while institutional investors sold net 127.3 billion won, and individual investors sold net 1.5826 trillion won.
The KOSDAQ closed at 834.38, down 1.89 points (0.23%) from the previous trading day. Opening with a gain of over 1%, the KOSDAQ saw strength in AI and software stocks as well as semiconductor board stocks, but narrowed its gains in the afternoon before turning lower.
In the KOSDAQ, individual investors bought net 156.6 billion won, while foreign investors sold 57.4 billion won and institutional investors sold 95.2 billion won.
By sector, electrical and electronics, publishing and media, and metals rose over 1%. Textiles and apparel, non-metallic minerals, construction, retail, and finance closed slightly higher. Transportation equipment, machinery and equipment, IT services, and chemicals closed nearly flat; entertainment and culture and telecommunications fell around 1%; and pharmaceuticals declined by over 2%.
Researcher Lee Kyung-min analyzed, "The rebound in international oil prices once again dampened investment sentiment, leading to a differentiated market performance across sectors based on positive news." He added, "The Meta effect highlighted expectations for increased server demand, boosting the board sector. Nuclear power-related stocks also rose on expectations of benefiting from U.S.-related investments." Following the Tokyo Game Show, new title momentum from various game companies became evident, lifting gaming stocks such as NC and Krafton.
On this day, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate settled at 1,358.2 won per dollar, down 22.8 won from the previous trading day, concluding weekly trading.
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