The KOSPI, which was on the verge of reaching the 3,000 mark, reversed course during trading on June 17 and slipped back to the 2,950 range. This decline is interpreted as being driven by weakened investor sentiment due to geopolitical risks originating from the Middle East, as well as selling pressure from foreign investors and institutions.
On this day, the KOSPI closed at 2,950.30, up 3.64 points (0.12%). Earlier, the index started at 2,959.93, up 13.27 points (0.45%) from the previous session, and surged to as high as 2,998.62 in the morning, coming close to the 3,000 threshold, but turned downward in the afternoon. While individual investors made a net purchase of 224.3 billion won, foreign investors and institutions each sold off 114.4 billion won and 105.6 billion won, respectively.
Kim Ji-won, a researcher at KB Securities, said, "President Trump urged people to 'leave Tehran immediately,' and with his abrupt return home from the G7 summit being held in Canada, hopes for the resolution of Middle East risks have shifted back to caution, reversing market sentiment once again." She added, "With the domestic stock market just below the 3,000 mark, external uncertainties are reinforcing a wait-and-see attitude, and as investors closely monitor the Middle East situation, profit-taking could be extended, so risk management is necessary."
The top market cap stocks ended the session somewhat mixed. SK Hynix, which hit a new all-time high during trading at 260,000 won, closed slightly higher (0.40%). Kia (2.15%), Hyundai Motor (1.74%), and Samsung Electronics (1.57%) all finished higher. In contrast, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-2.78%), Hanwha Aerospace (-1.65%), NAVER (-1.43%), KB Financial Group (-0.65%), and Shinhan Financial Group (-0.50%) closed lower.
On the same day, the KOSDAQ closed at 775.65, down 1.61 points (0.21%). The index had started at 780.08, up 2.82 points (0.36%) from the previous session, and initially expanded its gains but reversed into a decline during trading. Individuals and foreign investors bought a net 73.9 billion won and 13.2 billion won, respectively, while institutions alone made a net sale of 72.6 billion won.
Among the top market cap stocks, Samchundang Pharm (2.16%), Silicontwo (1.28%), Peptron (0.91%), Lino Industrial (0.41%), and Classys (0.17%) ended higher. In contrast, Pharmaresearch plummeted 8.30% after announcing a spin-off, as securities firms slashed their target prices. Additionally, Legochem Bio (-2.88%), Hugel (-2.18%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.17%), Alteogen (-1.97%), Ecopro (-1.31%), and ABL Bio (-1.08%) finished weaker.
By industry, non-ferrous metals (3.20%), telecommunications equipment (2.66%), and automobiles (1.80%) showed notable gains. In contrast, trading companies (-6.18%), energy (-2.64%), and transportation (-1.59%) sectors saw declines.
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