KOSPI Composite Index Gives Back Some Gains as Investors Adopt a Wait-and-See Stance Ahead of Holiday Break... Up 0.73% [fn Afternoon Market]

[Financial News] The KOSPI Composite Index, which had risen more than 1% early in the session, gave back some of its gains as a wait-and-see stance prevailed over buying ahead of the holiday break. Foreign investors, who had been net buyers in the morning, also turned to net selling.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the KOSPI Composite Index was trading at 7,050.40 as of 2:32 p.m. on the 23rd, up 32.49 points, or 0.46%, from the previous session.
In the KOSPI market, retail investors and foreign investors were net buyers of 939.1 billion won and 795.3 billion won, respectively, while institutional investors were net sellers of 230.1 billion won.
By sector, medical and precision instruments rose 2.75%, chemicals gained 1.73%, and electrical and electronics advanced 1.20%. Construction fell 6.00%, machinery and equipment dropped 3.82%, and transportation equipment and components declined 2.54%.
Among the top market-cap stocks, SK rose 4.08%, Samsung Electronics preferred shares gained 3.78%, and SK Square advanced 3.71%. Doosan Enerbility fell 6.24%, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries declined 3.68%, and Hanwha Aerospace dropped 3.60%.
The index opened above the 7,100 level, boosted by signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran. However, it gave back some of its gains as selling pressure emerged around the 7,000-point range and a wait-and-see stance persisted ahead of the holiday break.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ was trading at 841.43, up 7.05 points, or 0.84%, from the previous session. Retail investors were net buyers of 69.9 billion won, while foreign investors and institutional investors were net sellers of 31.0 billion won and 43.2 billion won, respectively.
Kang Jin-hyuk, a researcher at Shinhan Investment & Securities, said, "West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell below $95 as U.S. President Donald Trump signaled progress in negotiations and foreshadowed additional talks, while news emerged that part of an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia had resumed operations. The KOSPI also attempted to break above its 120-day moving average again, led by semiconductor stocks that had declined the previous afternoon."
[email protected] Bae Han-geul Reporter