On the 11th, the KOSPI index closed slightly lower due to reports that the United States' tariff on China has reached a total of 145%, not the previously known 125%. Concerns over an economic downturn due to heightened U.S.-China trade tensions reduced investor sentiment. Meanwhile, the KOSDAQ index successfully closed higher for two consecutive days.
On that day, the KOSPI index finished at 2432.72, down 12.34 points (0.50%) from the previous trading day. The KOSPI index had fallen to 2394.25 in the early session but reduced its losses in the afternoon and recovered above the 2430 level.
On the previous day, foreign investors who bought stocks worth 330 billion won sold a net 689.7 billion won that day, pulling the index down. Individuals and institutions had net purchases of 431.1 billion won and 134.3 billion won, respectively.
Among the top market capitalization stocks in the KOSPI, the securities that surged the previous day due to the announcement of the reciprocal tariff saw significant losses. Kia and Hyundai Motor dropped by 7.03% and 5.08%, respectively, and LG Energy Solution fell by over 4%. Semiconductor giants Samsung Electronics (-2.13%) and SK hynix (-1.31%) also showed weak performance.
On the 10th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump noted that while rebuilding the domestic shipbuilding industry, the country could purchase vessels from allied nations, leading to HYUNDAI HYMS finishing at the upper limit of its daily transaction range. Stocks of major shipbuilders classified as the 'big three' in shipbuilding, Hanwha Ocean (6.16%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (5.71%), and Samsung Heavy Industries (3.94%) also surged.
The KOSDAQ index closed at 695.59, up 13.8 points (2.02%) compared to the previous session. It recovered above the 690 level for the first time in eight trading days since the 1st (closing price 691.45). On that day, foreign investors and institutions had net purchases of 26.1 billion won and 14.2 billion won, respectively, leading to the index's rise. Individuals sold stocks worth 37.5 billion won.
In the KOSDAQ market, stocks related to obesity treatments, such as Peptron (29.99%) and Inventage Lab (19.90%), saw significant gains, highlighting the individual stock market trend. Stocks in the artificial intelligence (AI) robotics sector, including ROBOTIS (7.47%) and Rainbow Robotics (6.95%), also rose.
In other stocks among the top market capitalization in the KOSDAQ, LigaChem Biosciences (8.33%), PharmaResearch (5.02%), and CLASSYS (4.04%) rose. On the other hand, secondary battery stocks like ECOPRO BM (-3.09%) and Ecopro (-2.86%) showed instability.
Lee Jae-won, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corporation, said, "With a 25% tariff on automobiles and steel, a 10% universal tariff globally, and a 145% tariff on China still in place, short-term uncertainties are unlikely to be resolved," adding, "We need to check the Monetary Policy Committee's decision on interest rate cuts this year and the first-quarter corporate earnings on the 17th."