The KOSPI index fell below 8200 on Wednesday, pressured by simultaneous selling from foreign and institutional investors. Following a surge in semiconductor stocks the previous day, profit-taking emerged, compounded by rising oil prices and government bond yields that dampened investor sentiment. The KOSDAQ also closed down more than 2% due to institutional selling.
According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI finished at 8185.29, down 43.41 points (0.53%) from the previous trading day.
The index opened at 8165.73, down 62.97 points (0.77%), and initially widened its losses due to foreign selling. Although it briefly turned positive with an influx of retail buying, it reversed course and fell again in the afternoon.
Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "Discussions on the long-term asset allocation plan by the pension fund management committee highlighted the burden of domestic equity exposure, while foreign net selling and rising exchange rates constrained investor sentiment. The recent concentration in semiconductor stocks has eased, leading to profit-taking across various sectors."
He added, "With the dollar-won exchange rate surpassing 1500 won again and financial investments turning to net selling, supply and demand pressures have increased. Rising oil prices and government bond yields have also contributed to weakening the preference for risk assets."
In the securities market, individuals net bought 4.5098 trillion won, while foreign and institutional investors net sold 3.6819 trillion won and 999.5 billion won, respectively.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, SK Hynix (up 2.05%), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (up 13.44%), LG Energy Solution (up 15.25%), and Samsung Life Insurance (up 0.85%) closed higher. Conversely, Samsung Electronics (down 2.44%), SK Square (down 3.06%), Hyundai Motor (down 0.59%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (down 5.38%), Doosan Enerbility (down 2.40%), and Samsung C&T (down 2.68%) ended lower.
The KOSDAQ index closed at 1104.36, down 28.77 points (2.54%) from the previous day.
The index opened at 1135.84, up 2.71 points (0.24%), but turned negative due to selling pressure from foreign and institutional investors, subsequently widening its losses.
In the KOSDAQ market, individuals and foreigners net bought 136.8 billion won and 316 billion won, respectively, while institutions net sold 389 billion won.
Among the top KOSDAQ stocks, Alteogen (down 4.40%), Rainbow Robotics (down 4.37%), Juseong Engineering (down 9.17%), Kolon TissueGene (down 6.33%), Samchundang Pharmaceutical (down 3.84%), and Rino Industrial (down 3.32%) closed lower, while EcoPro BM (up 2.34%), EcoPro (up 1.26%), and Peptron (up 11.30%) finished higher.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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