KOSPI Ends Lower but Holds 5,500 Mark... KOSDAQ Also Weak

KOSPI Hits Intraday Record High of 5,580
KOSDAQ Also Declines...Closes at 1,106.08

The KOSPI index showed a mixed performance during the session and ended lower, but managed to hold above the 5,500 level. The KOSDAQ index also finished the day in negative territory.

Yonhap News

On the 13th, the KOSPI closed at 5,507.01, down 15.26 points (0.28%) from the previous day. The trading volume for the day was provisionally tallied at 1,282,598,000 shares, with a trading value of 30.2734 trillion won. During intraday trading, the KOSPI briefly surpassed 5,580, hitting an all-time high.

By investor type, individuals and institutions were net buyers of 907.758 billion won and 147.362 billion won, respectively, while foreigners were net sellers of 1.203163 trillion won.

By sector, most segments declined. Distribution fell 2.93%, while metals (-1.94%), chemicals (-1.75%), transportation equipment and components (-1.07%), and textiles and apparel (-0.79%) also weakened. In contrast, securities (+10.35%) and telecommunications (+4.57%) ended higher.

Among large-cap stocks by market capitalization, movements were mixed. Samsung Electronics rose 1.4% (2,600 won) to close at 181,200 won, newly earning the nickname "181,000-electronics," while SK Hynix fell 0.9% (8,000 won) to finish at 880,000 won. Samsung C&T (-4.7%), LG Energy Solution (-3.6%), LG Chem and Korea Zinc (-3.5%), LG Electronics (-3.4%), and Hanmi Semiconductor (-3.3%) declined, whereas Mirae Asset Securities (+15.3%) and SK Telecom (+10.9%) ended higher.

The KOSDAQ closed at 1,106.08, down 1.77 points (19.91%) from the previous day. Trading volume was provisionally tallied at 14,552.33 billion shares, with a trading value of 11.172316 trillion won.

By investor type, foreigners and institutions were net sellers of 287.423 billion won and 347.213 billion won, respectively, while individuals were net buyers of 662.291 billion won.

By sector, most segments declined. Entertainment and culture fell 2.90%, while electrical and electronics (-2.80%), paper and wood (-2.07%), machinery and equipment (-2.52%), non-metallic minerals (-1.91%), and manufacturing (-1.83%) also dropped. Only textiles and apparel (+2.41%) and publishing and media replication (+0.66%) rose.

Lee Kyungmin, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said, "Even though global stock markets fell again due to renewed concerns triggered by artificial intelligence (AI), the KOSPI (during intraday trading) continued its upward trend," adding that "the rally in leading stocks such as semiconductors, securities, and electric power equipment has continued." In contrast, he noted, "The warmth has not yet been transmitted to the KOSDAQ."