KOSPI Opens Lower on Semiconductor Profit-Taking... KOSDAQ Flat

On January 6, the KOSPI opened lower, despite the strong performance of the New York stock market overnight, as profit-taking sentiment spread, particularly in the semiconductor sector.

As of 9:20 a.m. on the same day, the KOSPI was trading at 4,409.22, down 48.30 points (1.08%) from the previous day. The index started at 4,446.08, down 11.44 points (0.26%) from the previous session, and then extended its losses.

Yonhap News Agency

While individual investors made net purchases of 462.3 billion won, foreign investors and institutions recorded net sales of 448.6 billion won and 33.7 billion won, respectively. In the KOSPI 200 futures market, foreign investors sold a net 63.8 billion won, while individuals and institutions bought a net 96.9 billion won and 21.0 billion won, respectively.

The top KOSPI stocks by market capitalization showed mixed performance. Samsung Electronics (-3.26%), SK Hynix (-3.16%), SK Square (-3.13%), Hanwha Aerospace (-1.88%), and Doosan Enerbility (-1.14%) declined, while Hyundai Motor (5.09%), Celltrion (2.51%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (1.56%), and LG Energy Solution (0.94%) posted gains.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ was trading at 956.29, down 1.22 points (0.13%) from the previous day. Earlier, the index opened at 959.38, up 1.88 points (0.20%), but has since fluctuated around the flat line. Individual investors purchased 66.4 billion won, while foreign investors and institutions sold 64.9 billion won and 1.3 billion won, respectively.

The top KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization were mostly on the rise. EcoPro (4.12%), EcoPro BM (1.65%), HLB (0.56%), Samchundang Pharm (0.39%), Rainbow Robotics (0.31%), Alteogen (0.21%), and LIG ChemBio (0.11%) advanced, while ABL Bio (-2.59%), Kolon TissueGene (-1.67%), and Peptron (-1.36%) declined.

By sector, transportation and logistics (+6.37%), automobiles (+3.08%), and IT services (+2.83%) were strong. In contrast, electrical equipment (-5.12%), non-ferrous metals (-2.54%), and semiconductors (-2.32%) were weak.

On the same day, the won-dollar exchange rate in the Seoul foreign exchange market opened at 1,445.0 won per US dollar, up 1.2 won from the previous session's weekly closing price (as of 3:30 p.m.). After falling to 1,429.8 won on December 29, the rate has risen for four consecutive trading days.