KOSPI Drops 1.8% Amid AI Bubble Concerns... Individuals Make Massive 1.4 Trillion Won Purchases [Financial News Closing Market Summary]

[Financial News] Renewed concerns about an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble originating in the United States led the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) to close nearly 2% lower. As the index faltered, individual investors purchased over 1 trillion won in a single day.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 15th, the KOSPI finished trading at 4,090.59, down 76.57 points (1.84%) from the previous session. The index opened at 4,053.74, a 2.72% drop from the previous close, rebounded to the 4,120 level during the session, but lost momentum in the afternoon.
In the main stock market, foreign investors and institutions sold off 957 billion won and 474.1 billion won worth of shares, respectively. Only individual investors stepped in, buying 1.4151 trillion won worth of stocks, taking advantage of lower prices.
By sector, pharmaceuticals (up 2.47%), metals (up 1.79%), and textiles/apparel (up 1.05%) rose, while construction (down 4.05%), electrical/electronics (down 3.01%), and medical/precision instruments (down 2.79%) declined.
Among large-cap stocks, most blue chips fell, including Samsung Electronics (down 3.58%), SK hynix (down 2.98%), LG Energy Solution (down 0.79%), and Hyundai Motor Company (down 2.49%). However, bio stocks such as Samsung Biologics (up 5.02%) and Celltrion (up 0.64%) gained.
On the 12th (local time), the U.S. stock market weakened as major AI companies such as Oracle Corporation and Broadcom Inc. reported earnings that fell short of expectations. Notably, Hock Tan, CEO of Broadcom Inc., stated at a post-earnings briefing on the 11th, "AI revenue guidance for the first quarter is unchanged from the same period last year," and "rapidly growing AI revenue has a lower gross margin than non-AI revenue." As a result, the NASDAQ Composite Index (COMP), which is heavily weighted toward tech stocks, closed at 23,195.17, down 398.69 points (1.69%) from the previous day. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) also plunged 5.10%.
Lee Jae-won, a researcher at Shinhan Securities, explained, "Broadcom Inc.'s earnings, which were seen as a key inflection point, turned out to be disappointing, leading to a decline in the semiconductor sector." He added, "The upcoming earnings announcement by Micron Technology, Inc. on the 17th is expected to serve as another critical inflection point for semiconductor investment sentiment this week."
On the same day, the KOSDAQ Index closed at 938.83, up 1.49 points (0.16%) from the previous session. The index opened at 925.60, down 1.25% from the previous close, but managed to reverse course and finish higher.
In the KOSDAQ market, individuals purchased 188.7 billion won worth of shares, while foreigners and institutions recorded net sales of 29.9 billion won and 120.9 billion won, respectively.

nodelay@fnnews.com Park Ji-yeon Reporter