KOSPI Ends Higher Led by Semiconductors... KOSDAQ Weighed Down by Biotech Weakness

KOSPI Rebounds on Strength in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix
KOSDAQ Hit by Intensified Concerns Over Biotech Competition

The KOSPI ended the session higher on July 14. Although it opened lower and saw its losses deepen at one point, large-cap semiconductor stocks, such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, posted strong performances and helped lift the index. In contrast, the KOSDAQ fell more than 1% by the close, dragged down by weakness in biotech shares.

On this day, the KOSPI closed at 6,856.83, up 49.90 points (0.73%) compared to the previous trading day. The index opened at 6,769.06, down 37.87 points (0.56%), and repeatedly rose and fell throughout the session. Foreign investors made net purchases totaling 970 billion won, and institutional investors net bought 3.2158 trillion won, pushing up the index. Retail investors alone sold a net 4.142 trillion won.

Lim Jeongeun, a researcher at KB Securities, analyzed, "Overnight, renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran drove up oil prices, while hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials and sharp declines in South Korean semiconductor stocks dampened investor sentiment. As a result, all three key New York indices ended lower, and in the domestic market, risk appetite diminished, resulting in net selling by individual investors."

On the 14th, after extreme volatility with the KOSPI fluctuating up and down, it closed with a slight increase. An employee is seen working in the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

By sector, electrical and electronics (2.76%), manufacturing (1.45%), and precision medical devices (0.61%) posted gains. In contrast, transportation equipment and parts (-4.09%), securities (-3.84%), chemicals (-3.24%), metals (-2.97%), IT services (-2.69%), and entertainment and culture (-2.60%), closed weaker.

Among large-cap stocks, the semiconductor sector led the KOSPI rebound as bargain hunting flowed into SK hynix (3.69%) and Samsung Electronics (3.34%). Other gainers included Samsung Electronics Preferred (3.00%), SK Square (2.50%), and Hana Financial Group (1.06%).

However, only about 23% of KOSPI stocks ended higher, reflecting general market weakness excluding semiconductor-related shares. In fact, Hanwha Aerospace (-6.84%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-4.41%), Hyundai Mobis (-4.41%), Hyundai Motor (-4.39%), SK (-3.60%), KB Financial Group (-3.33%), Doosan Enerbility (-3.14%), Samsung Life Insurance (-2.76%), Kia (-2.72%), Samsung Biologics (-2.29%), and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-2.25%) all closed lower.

The KOSDAQ index ended the session at 783.98, down 15.38 points (1.92%) from the previous trading day. KOSDAQ opened at 797.16, down 2.20 points (0.28%), and extended its losses during the session. At one point, the index fell over 5%, but trimmed losses after the sell-sidecar mechanism was triggered. On the KOSDAQ, foreign investors were net sellers, unloading 248.9 billion won. Institutional investors net bought 158.7 billion won, while retail investors net bought 72.9 billion won.

Among KOSDAQ large-cap stocks, some semiconductor equipment stocks posted solid gains: TES (16.68%), PSK (10.24%), Jusung Engineering (5.53%), HLB (4.09%), Wonik IPS (1.84%), and LIG Nex1 (1.11%) advanced. On the other hand, Alteogen (-11.69%), LegoChem Biosciences (-7.94%), EcoPro BM (-6.01%), ABL Bio (-5.94%), EcoPro (-5.38%), Kolon TissueGene (-4.83%), Eugene Technology (-3.98%), Rainbow Robotics (-3.49%), and Samchundang Pharm (-2.65%) finished lower.

Researcher Lim added, "The KOSDAQ's No.1 market cap stock, Alteogen, plunged after news that Samsung Bioepis secured its own subcutaneous (SC) formulation technology, fueling concerns over intensifying competition. This led to a decline in overall investor sentiment toward the biotech sector." However, Lim also noted, "Alteogen stated that the impact of this technology on its business would be limited."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.