KOSPI and KOSDAQ Start Higher... Hyundai Motor and Others Lead Auto Sector Gains

Stocks Rise on News of Possible Exclusion of Automobiles from Reciprocal Tariffs

Both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets started higher on the 13th. In particular, related stocks showed strength as the possibility of automobiles being excluded from the U.S. government's reciprocal tariff list was raised.

On the 12th, the KOSPI index started the session slightly lower amid concentrated selling by foreign investors. 2025.02.12

On the day, the KOSPI opened at 2558.95, up 0.41% from the previous trading day. As of 9:43 a.m., it was recording 2558.53, up 0.40%. Institutions and individuals were net buyers of 150.7 billion KRW and 63.2 billion KRW respectively, while foreigners sold alone with net sales of 209.3 billion KRW.

Many sectors showed an upward trend. Machinery and equipment rose the most by 2.65%, and the construction sector also saw a significant increase of 2.49%. This was followed by medical and precision instruments (1.39%), non-metallic minerals (1.24%), electrical and electronics (1.02%), and metals (0.92%). On the other hand, food and tobacco (-1.11%), transportation and warehousing (-0.55%), finance (-0.50%), and telecommunications (-0.14%) showed weakness.

Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization, the majority were strong. Among them, Hyundai Motor and Kia rose 3.23% and 2.29% respectively, showing high gains side by side. This buying momentum appears to have been driven by comments from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, the day before, suggesting that automobiles, along with pharmaceuticals, could be excluded from reciprocal tariff impositions. In addition, LG Energy Solution (1.48%), SK Hynix (1.31%), Samsung Biologics (0.69%), and Samsung Electronics (0.36%) also rose. NAVER (-1.56%) and Celltrion (-0.28%) showed weakness.

The KOSDAQ also started at 748.69, up 0.47% from the previous session, then slightly declined to record 745.0. Individuals were net buyers of 35.8 billion KRW, while institutions and foreigners were net sellers of 24.7 billion KRW and 4.5 billion KRW respectively.

Most sectors in the KOSDAQ market were also on the rise. Non-metallic minerals (1.74%), finance (1.33%), electrical and electronics (1.15%), and construction (1.12%) showed strength. Publishing and media reproduction (-1.55%), pharmaceuticals (-0.97%), and transportation and warehousing (-0.26%) declined.

Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization, Rainbow Robotics (3.75%), EcoPro BM (3.63%), and EcoPro (2.18%) were strong, while Alteogen fell 1.99% and HLB dropped 0.66%.