KOSPI Holds Above 2,490 as Investors Await Earnings

Foreigners Sell, Institutions Buy
Major Companies to Announce Q1 Earnings This Week
KOSDAQ Remains Firmly Positive

On April 21, the KOSPI started trading in a narrow range as investors adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of major companies' first-quarter earnings announcements.

As of 9:30 a.m. on the same day, the KOSPI index stood at 2,493.34, up 9.92 points (0.40%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 2,486.38, up 2.96 points (0.12%) from the previous session, and has maintained its upward momentum, staying above the 2,490 level.

In the main stock market, individuals net bought 70.4 billion won and institutions net bought 1.6 billion won, driving the index higher, while foreigners net sold 78.2 billion won.

On the 21st, as the KOSPI index started the session in a narrow range ahead of tariff-related negotiations between the Korean and US governments and the full-scale earnings season, dealers were working in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. On the same day, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,420 won, down 3.3 won from the previous trading day. 2025.4.21. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Most of the top market cap stocks were on the rise. Samsung Electronics (0.72%), SK Hynix (1.71%), LG Energy Solution (0.59%), Samsung Biologics (1.05%), Hyundai Motor (0.05%), and Hanwha Aerospace (0.36%) all saw gains.

On the other hand, LG Energy Solution (-0.59%), Celltrion (-0.25%), KB Financial Group (-0.24%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-0.70%) were declining.

By sector, electricity and gas (1.88%), non-metallic minerals (1.45%), entertainment and culture (1.17%), machinery and equipment (0.74%), IT services (0.70%), and securities (0.65%) were all showing gains.

Transportation and storage (-0.68%), paper and wood (-0.50%), general services (-0.18%), and insurance (-0.14%) were weak. Among these, shipping (-1.13%) and shipbuilding (-2.47%) saw relatively larger declines.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ index was at 719.34, up 1.57 points (0.22%) from the previous session. The index had opened at 717.25, down 0.52 points (0.07%) from the previous trading day, and has since been moving within a narrow range.

In the KOSDAQ market, individuals net bought 63.5 billion won, while foreigners and institutions net sold 42.3 billion won and 10.6 billion won, respectively, exerting downward pressure on the index.

Among the top market cap stocks, only Voronoi (1.79%), Lunit (1.30%), Pearl Abyss (1.94%), JYP Ent. (0.79%), SM Entertainment (0.43%), and ABL Bio (0.46%) were rising.

Samchundang Pharm (-2.54%), PharmaResearch (-1.77%), Peptron (-1.22%), and HLB (-1.27%) were weak. Bridge Biotherapeutics hit the lower limit for the fifth consecutive trading day due to a failed clinical trial.

This week, the domestic stock market is expected to fluctuate in response to major companies' earnings announcements. For stocks with high price and valuation burdens, earnings results could serve as a trigger for profit-taking.

Starting with Woori Financial Group and Hanmi Semiconductor on this day, major companies such as Samsung Biologics (April 23), SK Hynix and Hyundai Motor (April 24), and Kia and Shinhan Financial Group (April 25) will announce their first-quarter results throughout the week. In the United States, Tesla and Alphabet are also scheduled to release their earnings this week.

Choi Bowon, a researcher at Korea Investment & Securities, commented, "At least until the end of April or early May, the market is expected to remain in a range-bound phase rather than trending upward or downward," adding, "The longer-than-expected tariff negotiations and the concentration of earnings releases from large companies are factors that will likely limit a rebound in the index."