KOSPI Starts Flat... Exchange Rate Fluctuates in the High 1290 Won Range

On the 31st, the KOSPI opened flat.

As of 9:21 a.m. that day, the KOSPI was at 2,462.71, up 9.55 points (0.39%) from the previous trading day. In the stock market, individual investors were net buyers of 102.3 billion KRW, while foreigners and institutions were net sellers of 24.3 billion KRW and 77.4 billion KRW, respectively.

Most of the top 10 market capitalization stocks showed fluctuations of less than 1%, remaining flat. Samsung Electronics was trading at 63,700 KRW, up 500 KRW (0.79%) from the previous close. Samsung SDI (0.55%), LG Chem (0.43%), and Hyundai Motor (0.99%) also showed slight gains. On the other hand, LG Energy Solution was trading down 5,000 KRW (0.85%) at 583,000 KRW.

Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, said, "The passage of the 'K-Chips Act' in the National Assembly yesterday, which expands the tax credit rate for investments in semiconductors, secondary batteries, hydrogen, and autonomous driving, is expected to have a positive impact on domestic tech stocks. There has been a correction in the secondary battery sector, causing a dispersion in supply and demand. Since there were signs of overheating, attention should be paid to whether the correction will continue."

At the same time, the KOSDAQ index was at 850.10, down 0.38 points (0.04%) from the previous trading day. Individual investors were net buyers of 98.5 billion KRW, while foreigners and institutions were net sellers of 83.2 billion KRW and 10.7 billion KRW, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate was trading at 1,297.20 KRW, down 1.30 KRW (0.1%) from the previous closing price.