[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] The KOSPI, which had been soaring to new highs day after day, took a step back as it closed lower after six trading days due to selling pressure from institutional investors. The KOSDAQ index also ended the session slightly down.
On the 25th, the KOSPI closed at 2601.54, down 16.22 points (0.62%) from the previous day. The KOSPI started the day higher, surpassing the 2640 level in early trading and setting another all-time high, continuing the recent upward momentum in the morning session. However, the gains gradually diminished in the afternoon, turning negative around 1:50 PM, and the decline widened thereafter.
Looking at trading trends by participant, institutional investors led the index decline with net sales of 615 billion KRW. Institutions have been net sellers for five consecutive trading days including today. In contrast, individual and foreign investors were net buyers of 502.9 billion KRW and 129.7 billion KRW, respectively.
By sector, pharmaceuticals (2.48%), banks (1.14%), and financials (0.69%) rose, while medical precision (-2.54%), paper and wood (-1.86%), and electrical and electronics (-1.53%) declined.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, Celltrion surged nearly 10% (9.45%), while Hyundai Mobis (0.41%), LG Household & Health Care (0.26%), and POSCO (0.20%) also rose. Conversely, Samsung SDI (-2.54%), Samsung Electronics (-1.62%), Kakao (-1.61%), Samsung C&T (-1.59%), and SK Hynix (-1.42%) fell.
In the KOSPI market, 210 stocks rose including one that hit the upper price limit, 653 stocks declined with no stocks hitting the lower price limit, and 44 stocks remained unchanged.
The KOSDAQ index also retreated for the second consecutive day, falling back to the 860 level. The KOSDAQ started higher but, like the KOSPI, maintained a firm tone in the morning session before turning negative around 1:30 PM and extending losses to nearly 1%, closing down 6.98 points (0.80%) at 865.12.
By participant, institutional and foreign investors were net sellers of 270.4 billion KRW and 88.4 billion KRW, respectively, while individual investors were net buyers of 381.9 billion KRW.
By sector, distribution (4.26%), pharmaceuticals (0.66%), and telecommunication services (0.37%) rose, while non-metallic minerals (-3.69%), computer services (-2.88%), and digital content (-2.48%) declined.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, Celltrion Pharm surged 25.27%, and Celltrion Healthcare (8.32%), Genexine (2.69%), SK Materials (1.69%), and Pearl Abyss (1.21%) also rose. Meanwhile, Seegene (-4.26%), Alteogen (-2.80%), EcoPro BM (-2.23%), Hugel (-2.10%), and KMW (-2.08%) declined.
In the KOSDAQ market, 254 stocks rose including three that hit the upper price limit, 1,068 stocks declined with no stocks hitting the lower price limit, and 53 stocks remained unchanged.
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