KOSPI dips slightly on foreign selling; KOSDAQ rallies on retail buying

The KOSPI is trading slightly lower. On the stock index futures and options triple-witching day, foreigners are selling both cash equities and futures, while retail investors and institutions appear to be stepping in to support the market. The KOSDAQ is gaining on retail buying.

As of 10:37 a.m. on the 12th, the KOSPI was down 6.78 points (0.12%) from the previous session at 5,603.17. The index opened down 0.75% at 5,567.65 and briefly extended losses to more than 1%, before recovering toward flat territory and seesawing between gains and losses.

Foreigners were net sellers of KRW 709.6 billion worth of shares on the main board. They were also selling KRW 268.2 billion worth of KOSPI 200 futures. Retail investors and institutions, meanwhile, were buying KRW 579.4 billion and KRW 119.7 billion worth of shares, respectively.

Heavyweights were mixed.

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were down 0.79% and 0.42%, respectively. Hyundai Motor was also slipping 1.13%.

Hanwha Aerospace, meanwhile, was up 3.48%. Doosan Enerbility was also higher by 2.28%.

The KOSDAQ was up 10.22 points (0.9%) from the previous session at 1,147.05. In this market, retail investors were net buyers of KRW 353.7 billion worth of shares, while foreigners and institutions were selling KRW 325.2 billion and KRW 1.0 billion, respectively.

KOSDAQ heavyweights were also mixed.

EcoPro and EcoPro BM were down 0.93% and 0.76%, respectively.

Alteogen was also falling 1.53%.

Samchundang Pharm and LigaChem Biosciences, meanwhile, were up 1.29% and 5.18%, respectively.

In Seoul’s foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate was trading at KRW 1,478.7 per dollar, up KRW 1.7 (0.12%) from the previous session.

Han Kyeong-woo, Hankyung.com reporter case@hankyung.com