Slightly Lower at the Open... KOSPI Holds Above 4,200

Foreign Investors and Institutions Both Sell Off

Yonhap News

On December 30, both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices started slightly lower. While the KOSPI narrowed its losses and recovered the 4,200 mark, the KOSDAQ remained relatively flat.

On this day, the KOSPI opened at 4,193.75, down 0.64% from the previous day. It soon recovered the 4,200 level, reaching 4,210.69 as of 9:22 a.m.

By investor type, foreign investors and institutions recorded net sales of 171 billion won and 6.1 billion won, respectively. Individual investors recorded net purchases of 178 billion won.

Nearly all sectors declined. The largest drops were in metals (-2.48%), securities (-1.28%), transportation equipment and parts (-0.92%), chemicals (-0.85%), machinery and equipment (-0.76%), and distribution (-0.74%). However, medical and precision instruments (0.99%) and electricity and gas (0.84%) rose.

Most of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization also fell. LG Energy Solution recorded the largest drop at 2.7%. This was followed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-1.5%), Hanwha Aerospace (-0.9%), Hyundai Motor (-0.6%), and KB Financial Group (-0.4%). Only Samsung Electronics (0.7%) and SK Hynix (0.1%) posted slight gains.

The KOSDAQ also opened down 0.39% at 928.99. It remained around the 928 level with little volatility.

Again, only individual investors recorded net purchases, amounting to 152.2 billion won. Foreign investors and institutions posted net sales of 138.5 billion won and 11.5 billion won, respectively.

Most sectors were in decline. The largest drops were in finance (-1.88%), metals (-1.52%), electrical and electronics (-0.75%), and machinery and equipment (-0.72%). On the other hand, distribution (0.87%), entertainment and culture (0.75%), and food, beverage, and tobacco (0.66%) rose.

The top 10 stocks by market capitalization showed mixed results. HLB (3.5%), ABL Bio (1.5%), Peptron (0.9%), and LIG Chem Bio (0.1%) posted gains. In contrast, Ecopro (-3.2%), Ecopro BM (-2.8%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.0%), LIG Nex1 (-1.3%), and Samchundang Pharm (-1.0%) declined.