KOSPI Closes Lower After Hitting All-Time High... KOSDAQ Rises

Samsung Electronics Stalls After Hitting 80,000 Won
KOSDAQ Driven by Strength in Bio and Robotics Stocks

The KOSPI closed lower after setting an intraday all-time high and then entering a consolidation phase.

On September 19, the KOSPI index ended trading at 3,445.24, down 16.06 points (0.46%) from the previous day. The index opened at 3,461.23, down 0.07 points (0.00%), and reached an all-time intraday high of 3,467.89 in the morning session, but ultimately closed lower. Foreign investors sold 307.3 billion won worth of shares, and institutions sold 335.6 billion won. Individual investors alone purchased 534.4 billion won worth of shares.

By sector, medical precision equipment (2.09%), general services (1.00%), and pharmaceuticals (0.61%) rose. In contrast, most sectors declined, including transportation and storage (-2.72%), electricity and gas (-2.38%), chemicals (-1.32%), textiles and apparel (-1.26%), securities (-1.02%), paper and wood (-0.98%), construction (-0.93%), and metals (-0.86%).

Dealers are working in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 19th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Among large-cap stocks, SK Square (3.84%), Kakao (3.55%), Celltrion (1.36%), Shinhan Financial Group (1.16%), and Hanwha Ocean (0.63%) rose. In contrast, Hyundai Motor (-2.06%), NAVER (-1.89%), LG Energy Solution (-1.41%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-1.30%), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (-1.09%), Samsung Electronics (-0.99%), Samsung Life Insurance (-0.97%), and KB Financial Group (-0.77%) declined.

Kim Jiwon, a researcher at KB Securities, said, "Samsung Electronics shares declined after reaching 80,000 won the previous day. Automakers were weak due to concerns over tariffs," adding, "Defense stocks performed well, with Hyundai Rotem's rise standing out. The completion of a railway electric and electronic equipment plant in the United States and momentum from K2 tank exports were among the factors."

The KOSDAQ index closed at 863.11, up 6.00 points (0.70%) from the previous day. The index opened at 858.08, up 0.97 points (0.11%), and continued to rise throughout the session, surpassing the 860 mark and closing strong. Foreign investors made net purchases of 211.6 billion won, and institutions bought 79.1 billion won. Individual investors sold 255.9 billion won worth of shares.

The KOSDAQ continued its upward trend, driven by strength in bio and robotics stocks. Among large-cap stocks, ABL Bio (7.98%), Caregen (5.59%), Rainbow Robotics (4.73%), Samchundang Pharm (4.61%), SM Entertainment (4.37%), Ligachem Bio (3.86%), Boronoi (2.67%), LIG Nex1 (2.54%), JYP Entertainment (1.17%), Silicon Two (0.87%) rose. In contrast, EcoPro BM (-3.34%), Pharmaresearch (-1.81%), EcoPro (-1.68%), Classys (-1.12%), EO Technics (-0.81%) declined.

Researcher Kim said, "Security-related themes were strong due to a series of hacking and personal information leaks involving SK Telecom, KT, and Lotte Card. The Presidential Office has ordered the strengthening of the security industry," adding, "Recently, robotics stocks have also shown notable gains. Robotis surged on news that it had supplied a small quantity of AI Worker (robotic hands) to OpenAI."

Additionally, Kim noted, "With repeated record highs, there may be a tug-of-war between additional buying and profit-taking. Going forward, market attention is likely to shift to tariff issues and third-quarter earnings."