‘Pause’ KOSPI slides below 3,100… Foreigners and institutions are net sellers

The KOSPI Index is on a downward trend in early trading on the 4th. Investor caution has heightened due to Donald Trump's strong statements regarding reciprocal tariffs and concerns following the previous day’s sharp rise.

As of 9:14 a.m., the KOSPI Index is at 3,107.37, down 8.9 points (0.29%) from the previous trading day. The index opened up 0.19% and fluctuated around the flat line before switching to a downward trend at around 9:11 a.m., continuing the pullback.

In the KOSPI market, foreigners and institutions are net sellers by ₩1,011 billion and ₩552 billion, respectively, while individuals are net buyers by ₩1,436 billion.

U.S. stock markets closed stronger overnight. On the 3rd (local time), the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.77%, while the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ Composite Index increased by 0.83% and 1.02%, respectively.

However, President Trump hinted at dampening investor sentiment by suggesting he would begin notifying countries of their assigned reciprocal tariff rates starting from the 8th, the expiration date of the reciprocal tariff grace period, after the New York market closed.

Before leaving for Iowa that day, President Trump told reporters, "Starting tomorrow (the 4th), I may send about 10 letters a day to various countries," stoking tariff-related concerns.

Among the KOSPI large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics, Samsung Biologics, LG Energy Solution, KB Financial Group, Naver, Hanwha Aerospace, Celltrion, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries are declining, while SK Hynix, Kia, and Doosan Enerbility are rising.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ Index is at 788.54, down 4.79 points (0.6%) from the previous trading day. The index opened with a decline of 0.09% and the drop is expanding.

In the KOSDAQ market, foreigners and institutions are also net sellers by ₩614 billion and ₩371 billion, respectively, while individuals are net buyers by ₩991 billion.

Among the KOSDAQ large-cap stocks, Alteogen, EcoPro BM, EcoPro, Peptron, LIG Chem Bio, Hugel, Lino Corporation, and Samchundang Pharm are declining, while Rainbow Robotics and PharmaResearch are rising.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,362, up 2.6 won from the previous session.

Ko Jung-sam Hankyung.com reporter jsk@hankyung.com