The KOSPI, which had rebounded on the back of bargain-hunting in semiconductors, ended trading in slightly negative territory as selling by retail and foreign investors expanded in the afternoon.
On Monday, the KOSPI closed at 5,018.85, down 40.84 points (0.81%) from the previous trading day. The index opened lower on the day, dipping to 4,990.66 in early trading before reversing into positive territory and rising as high as 5,172.94, only to turn downward again in the afternoon.
On the day, institutional investors made net purchases of 720.3 billion won, while retail investors sold a net 488.6 billion won and foreign investors sold a net 692.5 billion won. Among institutional investors, financial investment firms, where ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) trading is reflected, recorded net purchases of 1 trillion 111.2 billion won.
Other corporations, which reflect corporate share buybacks among other factors, also saw net purchases of 461.3 billion won, a move interpreted as being influenced by SK hynix’s 2 trillion won share buyback program. The net purchase of SK hynix shares by other corporations on the day was 413.4 billion won.
By sector, paper and wood products rose in the 2% range, while medical and precision equipment rose in the 1% range. Electricity and gas, textiles and apparel, distribution, general services, machinery and equipment, telecommunications, entertainment and culture, and construction fell in the 1% range. Chemicals and metals declined in the 2% range, while food and tobacco, transportation equipment and parts, transportation and warehousing, and securities dropped in the 3% range.
Among top market capitalization stocks, Samsung Life Insurance rose in the 1% range, while Samsung C&T fell in the 1% range, Hyundai Motor fell in the 2% range, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics and Kia fell in the 3% range. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix closed in slightly positive territory.
Bargain-hunting flowed into semiconductor stocks, driving them higher, but retail and foreign investors expanded their selling near the close, giving back much of the gains.
During the session, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix rose as much as 3.55% and 5.39%, respectively, approaching the 200,000-won and 1,200,000-won levels. Secondary battery stocks generally showed weakness, with Samsung SDI falling in the 11% range and LG Energy Solution dropping in the 5% range.
The KOSDAQ closed at 638.97, down 5.30 points (0.82%) from the previous trading day. The index opened the day at 638.82, down 5.45 points (0.85%), and at one point in the afternoon rebounded to 658.66 before slipping into slightly negative territory as retail investors switched to selling.
In the KOSDAQ market, institutional investors made net purchases of 107.5 billion won, while retail investors sold a net 39.6 billion won and foreign investors sold a net 75.9 billion won.
By sector, non-metals rose in the 3% range and construction rose in the 1% range. Paper and wood products, transportation and warehousing, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals fell in the 1% range, while general services and financials dropped in the 4% range.
Among top market capitalization stocks, Simmtech, Jusung Engineering, and IOTECH rose in the 6% range, while HPSP and ISC rose in the 3% range. HLB fell in the 3% range, Rainbow Robotics dropped in the 5% range, Robotis declined in the 7% range, and Ecopro and Ecopro BM fell in the 8% range. Ecopro and Ecopro BM also showed weakness, affected by the broader slump in secondary battery stocks. Alteogen plunged in the 16% range due to issues related to strengthened U.S. regulations.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate closed daily trading at 1,347.1 won, down 9.5 won from the previous trading day.
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