On news that Israel launched a preemptive strike against Iran, the KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices turned downward on the 13th.
The KOSPI index stood at 2885.34 at 10 a.m. that day, down 1.19% (34.69 points) from the previous day. After showing an early rise to 2932.28, it quickly turned downward.
In the KOSPI market, individuals and foreigners showed a buying advantage with purchases of 401.1 billion won and 15.8 billion won, respectively. Institutions sold a net 420.9 billion won.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index recorded a decline of 19.8 points (2.51%) to 769.65. The KOSDAQ index also started higher at 792.68 but is experiencing a larger drop.
In the KOSDAQ market, individuals launched a buying spree worth 150.1 billion won, while foreigners and institutions had selling advantages with 112 billion won and 32.4 billion won, respectively.
According to local media in Israel, Israeli forces struck dozens of sites, including Iran's nuclear facilities and military bases, that day. Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant declared a state of emergency across Israel, citing the high likelihood of Iran retaliating using drones and missiles.
The preemptive strike by Israel has led to a withdrawal of funds from risky assets, including stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq 100, and S&P 500 futures are all down more than 1%. Japan's Nikkei 225 index is also widening its decline.
The potential impact on the market is expected to vary depending on the scale of escalation. Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, noted, "What will be important moving forward is whether Israel truly struck Iran's nuclear facilities and how severely Iran will retaliate," adding, "I believe it is right to observe the reactions of the U.S. and Iran and respond afterward."