On April 21, the KOSPI index fluctuated within a narrow range during the session and ultimately closed slightly higher in the 2,480 range. Investor sentiment remained cautious as the market awaited first-quarter earnings announcements.
The KOSPI closed at 2,488.42, up 5.00 points (0.20%) from the previous trading day. Retail investors and institutions were net buyers, purchasing 185.5 billion won and 23.8 billion won worth of shares, respectively, while foreign investors were net sellers, offloading 288.7 billion won.
On the 21st, as the KOSPI index opened flat ahead of tariff-related negotiations between the Korean and U.S. governments and the start of the full 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. April 21, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung
Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Biologics rose by 2.19%, while LG Energy Solution declined by 1.63%. Other major stocks, including Samsung Electronics (up 0.18%) and SK Hynix (up 0.91%), ended the session nearly flat.
The securities sector performed strongly on expectations of shareholder returns. Most stocks in the sector rose, including Daol Investment & Securities (up 5.07%), Mirae Asset Securities (up 4.79%), and Eugene Investment & Securities (up 3.88%).
Cho Minkyu, a researcher at Shinhan Investment & Securities, explained, "The KOSPI index climbed to near the 2,500-point mark on expectations for Korea-U.S. tariff negotiations, but the gains were pared back as foreign investors increased their selling of spot shares. The securities sector performed well due to expectations of solid earnings and shareholder returns ahead of the earnings season."
The KOSDAQ index closed at 715.45, down 2.32 points (0.32%) from the previous trading day. Foreign and institutional investors were net sellers, offloading 115.6 billion won and 63.5 billion won, respectively, while retail investors were the sole net buyers, purchasing 195.9 billion won.
Most of the top KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization declined. Only Rainbow Robotics (up 1.43%), Hugel (up 4.56%), and Classys (up 0.32%) posted gains.
Among the declining stocks, Kolon TissueGene (down 4.29%), Peptron (down 3.11%), HLB (down 2.73%), and LIG ChemBio (down 2.29%) recorded the largest losses.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate was trading at 1,418 won per dollar, down 5.6 won (0.39%) from the previous day.
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