KOSPI Closes Up 0.67%, KOSDAQ Rises Over 1%
[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] The KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices closed the session on an upward trend. Although the KOSPI briefly surpassed the 2400 mark early in the session, it failed to maintain this level as foreign and institutional investors ended the day with net selling.
On the 20th, the KOSPI closed at 2386.85, up 0.67% (15.88 points) from the previous trading day. The index showed a strong rise of over 1.5% early in the session, briefly exceeding 2400. However, as foreign investors switched to net selling and institutional net selling increased, the gain narrowed to around 0.6%. In the market that day, foreign and institutional investors sold stocks worth 42 billion KRW and 58.8 billion KRW respectively, while individual investors bought stocks worth 65.7 billion KRW alone.
The market continued its upward momentum due to expectations of Russia resuming natural gas supplies and strong corporate earnings prospects. However, in the afternoon, foreign investors, who had led the KOSPI's early gains, increased their selling in the futures market, limiting the index's rise. Sujin Park, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, analyzed, "The aftermath of the US-Korea Treasury meeting, where specific currency swap and exchange rate stabilization cooperation measures were not discussed, likely had an impact."
By sector, non-metallic minerals (2.13%), chemicals (1.98%), securities (1.97%), and finance (1.81%) showed the largest gains. Secondary battery material stocks generally recorded strong performance, with Taekyung Chemical (9.1%) and POSCO Chemical (3.9%) showing significant increases. Stocks that had recently experienced excessive declines, such as Hanwha Investment & Securities (2.7%), Kiwoom Securities (2.6%), and Shimsung Securities (2.4%), also closed higher.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, most rose except Samsung Electronics (-0.66%) and Kia (-0.61%). LG Energy Solution (0.26%), SK Hynix (2%), Samsung Biologics (0.49%), Hyundai Motor (0.27%), NAVER (1.03%), Samsung SDI (2.57%), and LG Chem (3.65%) all increased.
The KOSDAQ index rose 1.07% (8.39 points) to close at 790.72, buoyed by the Nasdaq index's positive momentum. The KOSDAQ index ended the session up 1.36% (10.61 points) at 792.94. In the market, foreign and individual investors sold stocks worth 700 million KRW and 24.5 billion KRW respectively, while institutional investors alone bought stocks worth 28.9 billion KRW.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, all rose except EcoPro BM (-0.63%) and Alteogen (-1.2%). Celltrion Healthcare (1%), L&F (2.86%), HLB (3.95%), Kakao Games (1.18%), Pearl Abyss (0.19%), Celltrion Pharm (2.68%), Seegene (1.21%), and Studio Dragon (5.34%) closed higher.
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