The KOSPI index settled above the 2500 mark, supported by combined buying from institutional and foreign investors.
On the 21st, the KOSPI index closed at 2510.42, up 19.22 points (0.77%) from the previous day. The trading volume for the day was 340.42 million shares, with a trading value tentatively estimated at 7.6304 trillion KRW.
By investor type, institutions and foreigners led the market, recording net purchases of 110.4 billion KRW and 353.1 billion KRW respectively. In contrast, individual investors net sold 438.6 billion KRW. In program trading, net buying occurred with 44.5 billion KRW in arbitrage trading and 310.7 billion KRW in non-arbitrage trading.
The KOSPI index started strong, buoyed by gains in AI-related technology stocks on the New York Stock Exchange the previous day, along with declines in the dollar and interest rates that lifted the Nasdaq. During the session, buying momentum from foreigners and institutions supported the index, but gains were somewhat limited by profit-taking in secondary battery-related stocks.
Most sectors showed strength. Textile and apparel rose 2.19%, construction 1.59%, services 1.38%, finance 1.22%, transportation and warehousing 1.11%, chemicals 1.04%, distribution 0.85%, pharmaceuticals 0.84%, and electric and gas utilities 0.81%. Conversely, insurance stocks fell 0.19%.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, most closed higher. Samsung Electronics ended slightly up by 0.14%, LG Energy Solution rose 0.68%, SK Hynix 0.46%, Samsung Biologics 0.28%, POSCO Holdings 0.42%, Hyundai Motor 0.33%, and LG Chem 1.52%. Meanwhile, Kia declined 0.95%.
The KOSDAQ index also showed strength, closing at 817.01, up 3.93 points (0.48%) from the previous day. By investor type, institutions net sold 99.5 billion KRW, while foreigners and individuals net bought 15.1 billion KRW and 91.0 billion KRW respectively.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, most secondary battery-related stocks showed weakness. EcoPro BM and EcoPro fell 2.19% and 0.41% respectively, POSCO DX dropped 2.12%, and L&F declined 0.67%. On the other hand, Celltrion Healthcare rose 1.34%, HLB 0.48%, Alteogen 5.6%, and Celltrion Pharm 4.83%.
Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the KRW/USD exchange rate closed at 1289.2 won, down 2.4 won from the previous day.
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