"Wasn't it supposed to rise today?"... KOSPI falls to 5,593 despite foreign investors' return [fn closing market]

[Financial News] The KOSPI tried to reclaim the 6,000 level on foreign buying, but it ultimately closed lower. Investor sentiment improved after Samsung Electronics released its earnings, but the index was dragged down by some profit-taking and sell orders that had been held back during the rebound.
On the 30th, the KOSPI closed at 5,593.56, down 69.68 points, or 1.23%, from the previous trading day. It opened at 5,681.77, up 18.53 points, or 0.33%, from the previous close, and at one point surged as much as 5.54% to 5,976.82 before giving back its gains and turning lower.
On the Korea Exchange Main Board, foreigners and institutions bought a net 1.3252 trillion won and 74.4 billion won, respectively. It was the first time in five trading days that foreigners posted net buying on the main board, since the 23rd, when they bought 2.1358 trillion won. Individuals, meanwhile, sold a net 1.422 trillion won.
Among the large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics (-0.72%), SK hynix (-5.64%), SK Square (-6.00%), Hyundai Motor Company (-0.71%), Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-14.58%), and Samsung Life Insurance (-0.56%) were weak. LG Energy Solution (6.49%), Samsung Biologics (3.25%), and KB Financial Group (4.56%) advanced.
By sector, pharmaceuticals (3.51%), chemicals (2.56%), metals (2.49%), transport equipment and parts (2.19%), insurance (1.96%), and real estate (1.86%) all finished higher. Electrical and electronics (-3.08%), medical and precision instruments (-2.10%), manufacturing (-1.83%), and leisure and culture (-1.46%) declined.
Earlier in the day, the KOSPI rose more than 5% after Samsung Electronics announced its earnings. During its second-quarter 2025 earnings conference call, Samsung Electronics said, "We plan to carry out our three-year shareholder return policy as promised," and added, "We will devise measures that can maximize the effect of enhancing shareholder value while securing the optimal balance with reinvestment for future growth."
Samsung Electronics then climbed as much as 8.39% from the previous session to 226,000 won, helping drive the index higher. However, selling pressure intensified in the afternoon, and the stock eventually closed at 207,000 won, down 0.72%. On the day, individuals sold a net 512.3 billion won in SK hynix and 108.2 billion won in Samsung Electronics. Institutions also offloaded 82.8 billion won in SK hynix and 36.9 billion won in Samsung Electronics.
The KOSDAQ (Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) ended the day at 644.78, down 17.90 points, or 2.70%, from the previous close. It opened at 654.72, down 7.96 points, or 1.20%, and at one point traded 2.19% higher at 677.19 before reversing course.
On the KOSDAQ, foreigners were the only net buyers, purchasing 248.1 billion won. Institutions and individuals, by contrast, sold a net 143.6 billion won and 110.1 billion won, respectively.

[email protected] Im Sang-hyeok Reporter