KOSPI plunges on 'Iran crisis'...closes at 5,791.91 [FN Market Close]

According to The Financial News, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed lower as foreign investors rushed to sell amid U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran and concerns that the conflict could spread across the Middle East.
On the 3rd, the KOSPI finished trading at 5,791.91, down 452.22 points, or 7.24%, from the previous session.
The KOSPI had opened at 6,165.15, up 78.98 points, or 1.26%, from the previous day.
At one point during the session, a sharp move in the KOSPI 200 Index Futures triggered a five-minute suspension of program sell orders. At the time of activation, the KOSPI 200 Index Futures were down 47.75 points, or 5.09%, from the previous close. A sell-side sidecar on the KOSPI was triggered for the first time in about a month, since the 6th of last month.
In the KOSPI Market, foreign investors sold 5.5131 trillion won worth of shares, while institutions also recorded aggressive net selling of more than 1 trillion won. Individual investors, on the other hand, bought a net 6.2732 trillion won.
Large-cap stocks by market capitalization widened their losses. Samsung Electronics plunged by about 9%, while SK Hynix and Hyundai Motor each tumbled by around 11%.
By sector, electricity and gas fell 11.04%, electrical and electronics dropped 9.85%, and machinery and equipment declined 8.27%.
The KOSDAQ Index closed at 1,137.70, down 55.08 points, or 4.62%, from the previous day.

dschoi@fnnews.com Choi Doo-sun Reporter