Ahead of the scheduled tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States this week, investors maintained a wait-and-see stance, leading the stock market to show mixed trends. On the 21st, the KOSPI rose 0.2%, while the KOSDAQ fell 0.3%. Foreign investors continued to sell in the domestic stock market. South Korea and the United States will engage in high-level negotiations involving finance and trade ministers for two days starting on the 24th. The outcome of the negotiations is expected to influence the future direction of the stock market.
On that day, the KOSPI closed at 2488.42, up 5 points (0.2%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 2485.51, up 2.09 points from the previous session, fluctuating between gains and losses in the early trading hours.
Foreign investors sold a net 294.5 billion won, continuing a net selling streak for seven trading days. Individuals bought a net 211.1 billion won, attempting to defend the stock market. Individuals sold 22.3 billion won on the previous trading day, the 18th, but judged that the market had hit bottom and seemed to bet on a rising market. Institutional investors managed a net purchase of just 4.7 billion won.
In the KOSPI market, most of the companies with the highest market capitalization rose, but the gains were not significant. Samsung Electronics rose 0.18%, and SK hynix also increased by 0.91%. Hyundai Motor, Hanwha Aerospace, Kia, and KB Financial rose close to 1%. Samsung Biologics alone rose by 2.19%.
In contrast, LG Energy Solution fell by 1.63%.
As the early presidential election phase begins, individual stocks related to political issues showed strong performance. The promise to relocate the administrative capital to Sejong City has resurged, drawing attention to small and mid-sized construction stocks and cement stocks. Among construction stocks, Samho Development and Kyeryong Construction recorded gains, while among cement stocks, Sungshin Cement and Sungshin Yanghwa reached their price ceilings.
On that day, the KOSDAQ index fell by 2.32 points (0.32%) to close at 715.45. In the KOSDAQ market, individuals aggressively invested with a net purchase of 195.9 billion won, but foreign and institutional investors dumped large amounts of stock, leading to a decline in the index. Foreign investors and institutions net sold 115.6 billion won and 63.5 billion won, respectively, on that day. The index briefly surpassed 722 in early trading, but shifted to a downward trend due to selling pressure from institutions.
Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization in the KOSDAQ, Alteogen, ECOPRO BM, HLB, Ecopro, Peptron, LigaChem Biosciences, and PharmaResearch fell. Only three stocks—Rainbow Robotics, HUGEL, and CLASSYS—closed with gains.
In the KOSDAQ market centered around technology stocks, shares related to artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductor companies such as Furiosa AI, as well as technology investment-related stocks, attracted attention. Company K, Xperix, and Panstar Enterprise recorded price ceilings. NAU IB Capital, Tomato System, and DSC Investment also showed upward trends.
Lee Jae-myung, a candidate for the presidential nomination from the Democratic Party of Korea, noted plans to increase the research and development budget, leading technology investment stocks to rise significantly. LB Investment, SV Investment, and AJU IB INVESTMENT closed the market on a strong note.
However, Sangji Construction, which had recorded price ceilings for 10 consecutive trading days as a theme stock of Lee, plummeted by 25.1%. This was due to concerns about a sell-off as a large volume of convertible bonds (CB) was converted into stocks.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market, as of 3:30 p.m., the won-dollar exchange rate recorded 1419.1 won, down 4.7 won from the previous day.