KOSPI Narrows Gains, Holds Firm Above 4,120... Foreign and Institutional Buying Leads [fn Afternoon Market Update]

[Financial News] After rising to the 4,140 level in the morning, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) trimmed its gains in the afternoon but remains firm above 4,120.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), as of 2:02 p.m. today, the KOSPI was trading at 4,125.06, up 19.13 points (0.47%) from the previous session. The index climbed as high as 4,140.84 in the morning before paring back some of its gains.
In the KOSPI Market, foreign investors and institutions made net purchases of 609.9 billion won and 413.4 billion won, respectively, while individuals recorded net sales of 982 billion won.
By sector, entertainment/culture (2.51%), transportation equipment/parts (1.95%), and insurance (1.68%) led the gains, while textiles/apparel (-2.06%), electricity/gas (-1.31%), and metals (-1.21%) were among the laggards.
Among large-cap stocks, Hanwha Ocean (12.49%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (3.70%), and Samsung Life Insurance (2.62%) advanced, while Samsung C&T (-1.23%), Celltrion (-1.19%), and Shinhan Financial Group (-1.02%) declined.
At the same time, the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) was trading at 920.25, down 8.89 points (-0.96%) from the previous day. Individuals and institutions bought a net 296.1 billion won and 28.2 billion won, respectively, while foreigners sold a net 239.3 billion won.
Jaewon Lee, a researcher at Shinhan Securities, explained, "KOSPI is seeing renewed inflows of foreign capital as concerns over Artificial Intelligence (AI) subside, with funds focusing on the semiconductor sector."

koreanbae@fnnews.com Baehan-geul Reporter