Samsung Electronics Remains at '50,000 Won Electronics'
SK Hynix Falls Amid Q1 Loss Expansion Concerns
EcoPro Up 20.75%
On the 15th, both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ closed higher. The U.S. February Consumer Price Index (CPI) met expectations, indicating continued downward pressure on inflation, and with the calming of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) crisis, the domestic stock market also ended on an upward trend.
The KOSPI is trading at 2,379.72, up 1.31% (30.75 points) from the previous day. It opened at 2,380.09, rising 1.32% (31.12 points) on the day.
In the afternoon, institutions switched to buying, leading to a positive close. Institutions alone sold a net 293.1 billion KRW. Individuals and foreigners sold net amounts of 247.2 billion KRW and 77.3 billion KRW, respectively. In the futures market, foreigners were the sole net buyers with 581.8 billion KRW, while individuals and institutions sold net amounts of 155.3 billion KRW and 397.9 billion KRW, respectively.
The number of advancing stocks was 716, unchanged stocks were 33, and declining stocks were 184. There was one stock hitting the upper price limit and none hitting the lower limit.
Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization, only SK Hynix declined. It showed a downward trend throughout the day amid analysis that its first-quarter deficit would exceed expectations. Ultimately, the price fell below the 80,000 KRW level, closing at 79,100 KRW (-2.47%).
Kia recorded the highest gain, rising 4.33%. It was followed by POSCO Holdings +3.32%, LG Energy Solution +3.10%, and LG Chem +2.27%. Samsung Electronics rose 1.36% to close at 59,800 KRW. Although it rose to 60,300 KRW during the session, the upward momentum weakened, keeping it in the '50,000 KRW range.'
The KOSDAQ is at 781.17, up 3.05% (23.12 points) from the previous day. It is trading at 774.53, up 2.17% (16.48 points) on the day.
The KOSDAQ rally was led by foreigners, who bought a net 361.4 billion KRW. Conversely, individuals and institutions sold net amounts of 321.2 billion KRW and 25.5 billion KRW, respectively.
Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization, only SM Entertainment fell by 1.56%. Celltrion Healthcare and Osstem Implant remained unchanged.
Battery stocks drove the market. Ecopro surged 20.75%, recording the highest gain. It was followed by Ecopro BM +8.91%, HLB +2.84%, and L&F +1.98%. Ecopro’s stock price soared on expectations of benefiting from the European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and news that the previous day it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SK Ecoplant and TES for cooperation in battery recycling business in Europe, which acted as a positive catalyst.
Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, analyzed, "With the U.S. February CPI meeting expectations and the calming of the SVB crisis, investor sentiment has recovered. Recently, small and mid-cap stocks, which had experienced excessive declines, showed relatively stronger performance compared to large-cap stocks."
Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,303.7 KRW, down 7.4 KRW from the previous trading day.
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