The KOSPI index initially rose due to bargain hunting in early trading but fell over 4% in the afternoon as selling pressure increased. Despite foreign and individual investors selling off, institutions purchased over 1 trillion won to defend the index, but it was unable to recover.
As of 1:41 PM, the KOSPI was trading at 7278.66, down 377.65 points (4.93%) from the previous trading day.
The index started the day down more than 2% due to weakness in U.S. semiconductor stocks and geopolitical risks in the Middle East. It briefly rose to 7791.66, supported by buying from foreign and institutional investors, but the selling pressure returned in the afternoon, causing it to drop back below 7200.
Increased volatility triggered sell-side circuit breakers in both the securities and KOSDAQ markets. The Korea Exchange activated a sell-side circuit breaker at 1:31 PM when the KOSPI 200 futures price fell 5.21% to 1174.36, maintaining that level for over a minute, halting the effectiveness of sell orders for five minutes.
Shortly after, at 1:33 PM, a similar circuit breaker was triggered in the KOSDAQ market when the KOSDAQ 150 futures price dropped 6.31% and the KOSDAQ 150 index fell 6.76%, also halting sell orders for five minutes.
In the securities market, institutions have net purchased 1.0314 trillion won, while foreign and individual investors sold off 615.9 billion won and 428 billion won, respectively, contributing to the index's decline.
Most large-cap stocks are showing weakness. Samsung Electronics fell 6.25%, SK Hynix dropped 3.00%, SK Square decreased by 8.33%, Samsung Electro-Mechanics fell 7.40%, Hyundai Motor declined 4.59%, LG Energy Solution dropped 5.27%, Samsung Life Insurance fell 9.07%, Samsung C&T decreased 8.13%, and Samsung Biologics dropped 3.94%.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index recorded a decline of 46.69 points (5.62%), standing at 784.54.
In the KOSDAQ market, individuals net purchased 47.5 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors sold off 16.4 billion won and 27.6 billion won, respectively.
Most large-cap stocks in the KOSDAQ are also showing weakness, with Alteogen down 8.00%, EcoPro BM down 6.24%, EcoPro down 7.23%, Rainbow Robotics down 7.94%, JUSUNG Engineering down 7.86%, Kolon TissueGene down 8.47%, and HLB down 3.58%.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.