Pharmaceutical and Bio Stocks Rise Across the Board
"This Week Expected to Resolve Uncertainties"
The Korean stock market, which had seen significant declines for two consecutive days, successfully rebounded on the 1st. With major events scheduled this week, including the Trump administration's tariff announcement and President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial, it is interpreted that bargain buying occurred ahead of the uncertainty resolution period.
On this day, the KOSPI closed at 2,521.39, up 40.27 points (1.62%) from the previous day. The index opened at 2,511.24, up 30.12 points (1.21%). Foreigners sold a net 391.2 billion KRW worth of stocks, but institutions and individuals bought net 180.3 billion KRW and 86.6 billion KRW worth, respectively.
On the 1st, the KOSPI index opened at 2,511.24 won, up 1.21% from the previous trading day, as a dealer was working in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the USD/KRW exchange rate started trading at 1,473 won, up 0.1 won from the previous trading day. 2025.4.1. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
Among the top market capitalization stocks, Kakao (7.93%), Hanwha Aerospace (7.34%), HMM (5.06%), Samsung Biologics (4.34%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (4.30%), Celltrion (3.43%), SK Hynix (3.30%), Hanwha Ocean (3.28%), NAVER (2.98%), Shinhan Financial Group (2.23%), Samsung C&T (1.97%), and Samsung Electronics (1.73%) rose. On the other hand, LG Energy Solution (-1.94%) and Meritz Financial Group (-0.16%) declined.
By sector, medical precision instruments (4.25%), pharmaceuticals (3.49%), transportation and warehousing (3.22%), IT (information technology) services (3.00%), transportation equipment parts (2.74%), and paper and wood (2.63%) showed strength. Conversely, telecommunications (-0.85%) and electric gas (-0.33%) sectors were weak.
The KOSDAQ index also closed at 691.45, up 18.60 points (2.76%) from the previous session. The index opened at 681.58, up 8.73 points (1.30%). Foreigners sold a net 5.1 billion KRW worth, institutions bought a net 176.7 billion KRW, and individuals sold a net 168.7 billion KRW.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, Peptron (15.76%), Voronoi (6.12%), Samchundang Pharm (5.52%), Pharma Research (5.42%), HLB (5.26%), Hugel (4.48%), Alteogen (4.35%), Rigachem Bio (4.32%), JYP Ent. (3.21%), and Celltrion Pharm (3.20%) rose. Meanwhile, EcoPro (-2.32%), SM (-1.12%), and EcoPro BM (-0.52%) declined.
Lee Jae-won, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., said, "The perception that the previous day's decline was excessive led to bargain buying and a rebound in stock prices. The KOSPI rose mainly in bio, shipbuilding, internet, and finance sectors," adding, "In the KOSDAQ market, pharmaceutical and bio sectors such as Peptron rebounded collectively due to expectations of interest rate declines. Expectations for academic conferences such as the American Association for Cancer Research this month were also effective."
This week is expected to be a period of uncertainty resolution with the Trump administration's tariff enforcement and President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial scheduled. Lee said, "During periods of expanding uncertainty, bargain buying will continue to flow in when short-term declines are excessive," adding, "Attention should be paid to whether uncertainties are resolved with the Trump administration's tariff announcement on the 2nd and the impeachment trial result on the 4th. Afterwards, the influence of corporate first-quarter earnings, led by Samsung Electronics on the 8th, is expected to be re-emphasized."
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