KOSPI Shows Firm Start in Early Trading... Trades Around 3150 Level

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] The KOSPI is showing a firm upward trend in the early trading session.

At 9:09 a.m. on the 15th, the KOSPI stood at 3,150.60, up 0.11% (1.77 points) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 3,147.21, down 0.05% (1.62 points) from the previous day. Regarding investor trends, foreigners and individuals bought stocks worth 29 billion KRW and 35.7 billion KRW respectively, while institutions sold stocks worth 75.3 billion KRW.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 0.52% to 77,000 KRW compared to the previous day. NAVER (1.12%), Samsung Biologics (0.99%), Kakao (2.02%), and Celltrion (3.42%) also increased, while SK Hynix (-1.40%), Samsung SDI (-0.26%), LG Chem (-2.32%), and Hyundai Motor (-0.24%) declined.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ index stood at 1,039.25, up 0.15% (1.1 points) from the previous day. The KOSDAQ opened at 1,039.57, up 0.18% (1.83 points). In terms of investor trends, individuals bought stocks worth 41.8 billion KRW, while foreigners and institutions sold stocks worth 24.9 billion KRW and 14.2 billion KRW respectively.

Among the top market capitalization stocks, Celltrion Healthcare (2.89%), HL Biopharma (3.93%), Celltrion Pharm (4.24%), Kakao Games (1.10%), SK Materials (0.80%), and Seegene (4.52%) rose, while EcoPro BM (-1.85%) and L&F (-2.08%) declined.

Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, explained, “Ahead of the September FOMC, despite the easing of the sharp rise in U.S. consumer prices in August, market sensitivity to the economic slowdown caused by the Delta variant will exert downward pressure on the domestic stock market.” She added, “Market attention will also focus on China’s industrial production and retail sales indicators released during the trading session.”

Han further analyzed, “As confirmed by the weak manufacturing PMI in China for August, the sluggish momentum of the Chinese economy has been partially priced in. Considering the increased willingness of the Chinese government to stimulate the economy, unless real economy indicators record a significant shock, market sensitivity to these indicators will not be high.”