KOSPI Ends Slightly Lower Around 3,920 After Fluctuations, While KOSDAQ Gains Over 1%

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) started higher on the 1st but ended slightly lower, unable to withstand strong institutional selling.
On this day, KOSPI closed at 3,920.37, down 6.22 points (0.16%) from the previous session. The index opened at 3,967.92, up 41.33 points (1.05%), but fluctuated throughout the session and at one point fell below the 3,900 mark.
Institutional investors led the selling. While individuals and foreign investors made net purchases of 53 billion KRW and 215.4 billion KRW respectively, institutions showed a net selling position of 233.2 billion KRW.
By sector, insurance, transportation and storage, pharmaceuticals, retail, electrical and electronics, telecommunications, and medical precision devices showed strength. In contrast, utilities, transportation equipment and parts, food and tobacco, construction, machinery and equipment, and textiles and apparel declined.
Among the top market cap stocks, Samsung Electronics (0.30%), SK hynix (1.51%), LG Energy Solution (1.23%), Samsung Biologics (2.61%), and KB Financial Group (1.20%) closed higher. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor (-2.68%), Doosan Enerbility (-1.96%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.74%), and Kia Corporation (-1.58%) ended lower.
The Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) continued its upward trend for a fourth consecutive session. The KOSDAQ index finished at 922.38, up 9.71 points (1.06%) from the previous day.
Sunghoon Lee, a researcher at KIWOOM Securities, noted, "Factors that had weighed on the market, such as uncertainty over Fed rate cuts and concerns about an AI bubble, have eased, creating a more favorable environment for global equities." He added, "It will be important to focus on events this week that could determine whether the key momentum of rate cuts and AI industry expansion can be sustained."
Lee Jae-won, a researcher at Shinhan Securities, explained, "The gap in relative returns between KOSPI and KOSDAQ continues to narrow, following last Friday. Institutional funds are shifting."

jisseo@fnnews.com Seo Min-ji Reporter