KOSPI Hits All-Time High Before Falling Below 3,600... Closes at 3,561.81 [fn Closing Market]

[Financial News] The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surpassed the 3,600 mark on the 14th, reaching a record high. However, concerns over a renewed U.S.-China trade conflict pushed the index down to the 3,560 range.
On this day, KOSPI closed at 3,561.81, down 22.74 points (0.63%) from the previous trading session.
KOSPI opened at 3,604.12, up 19.57 points (0.55%), and hit 3,646.77 around 9:31 a.m. However, as institutional investors increased their selling, the index fell back below 3,600.
On this day, the United States (U.S.) announced a 100% additional tariff on China in response to China's move to tighten rare earth elements (REE) export controls, heightening worries over the U.S.-China trade conflict. Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, warned that China would suffer the greatest impact from its own REE export restrictions.
Kyungmin Lee, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "In the morning, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) urged the U.S. to immediately correct its wrong practices and show sincerity in dialogue." He added, "China issued a statement saying, 'China will fight to the end in the trade war,' which started to weaken the global stock market's resilience."
He continued, "As domestic companies became direct targets of retaliation, KOSPI's decline deepened, and the US dollar–South Korean won exchange rate also surged." He explained, "The Shipbuilding and Defense Industry led the drop in KOSPI."
In the KOSPI Market, individuals and foreign investors bought 72.4 billion won and 484.9 billion won worth of shares, respectively, while institutions sold 629.9 billion won. LG Energy Solution (up 6.94%), Samsung Life Insurance (up 6.30%), and Hyundai Motor (up 2.06%) closed higher. Hanwha Aerospace (down 6.04%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (down 4.06%), and Shinhan Financial Group (down 2.84%) ended lower.
Samsung Electronics, the largest stock by market capitalization, finished at 91,600 won, down 1.82% from the previous session.
The KOSDAQ Index closed at 847.96, down 12.53 points (1.46%) from the previous session. The index opened at 865.37, up 4.88 points (0.57%), but reversed to a decline.


khj91@fnnews.com Kim Hyun-jung Reporter