The KOSPI index, which fluctuated around the 8000 mark throughout the week, briefly surpassed this threshold for the first time during trading but then plummeted by over 4% due to a surge in profit-taking sales. The index fell to the 7600 range, prompting the activation of a trading curb.
According to the Korea Exchange, as of 1:30 PM, the KOSPI was trading at 7611.51, down 369.90 points (4.63%) from the previous trading day.
The index opened at 7951.75, down 29.66 points (0.37%) from the previous day but managed to rise above 8000 early in the session. However, a rapid increase in profit-taking sales, primarily from foreign investors, led to a swift decline.
At approximately 1:28:49 PM, a trading curb was activated due to significant fluctuations in the KOSPI 200 futures index, halting program sell orders for five minutes.
At the time of activation, the KOSPI 200 futures index was recorded at 1182.00, down 63.50 points (5.09%) from the previous day's close. This marks the first activation of a trading curb in the KOSPI market since April 2.
Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, noted, "After surpassing 8000 points early in the session, the market turned downward as foreign selling increased. Following comments from U.S. President Donald Trump that he would 'no longer tolerate' Iran, U.S. futures fell, leading to an expansion of declines in the Korean market."
In the securities market, individual investors made a net purchase of 4.3927 trillion won to help defend the index. In contrast, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 4.1735 trillion won and 321.3 billion won, respectively, focusing on profit-taking.
Most of the top market capitalization stocks declined, with the exception of Samsung Electro-Mechanics (0.20%). Samsung Electronics (-6.25%), SK Hynix (-5.74%), SK Square (-5.83%), Hyundai Motor (-1.40%), LG Energy Solution (-3.62%), Doosan Enerbility (-4.87%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-4.17%), and Samsung Biologics (-0.62%) all showed weakness.
The KOSDAQ index also turned downward. At the same time, the KOSDAQ was recorded at 1145.25, down 45.84 points (3.85%) from the previous trading day. The index opened higher at 1197.23 but quickly reversed as investor sentiment deteriorated.
In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors were net buyers of 85.1 billion won, while individuals and institutions sold a net 25.8 billion won and 10.4 billion won, respectively.
Top KOSDAQ stocks also experienced declines, including Alteogen (-3.64%), EcoPro BM (-6.22%), EcoPro (-6.61%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.50%), Kolon TissueGene (-2.19%), Samchundang Pharm (-3.58%), Rino Technology (-8.76%), Rigakem Bio (-1.38%), HLB (-1.50%), and ABL Bio (-4.46%).
* This article has been translated by AI.
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