KOSPI Turns Slightly Higher During Session; Foreign Investors, Institutions Net Buyers

KOSPI Rebounds as Foreign Investors and Institutions Buy More Than 1 Trillion Won Combined
LG Energy Solution Rises 6%, Climbs to Third by Market Capitalization
KOSDAQ Opens Down 2% but Turns Slightly Higher

The KOSPI, which was weaker early in the session, is trading slightly higher. Net buying by foreign and institutional investors appears to be driving the gains.

Employees work in the dealing room at Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul, on October 19, as the KOSPI opened down 179.64 points (3.17%) at 5,488.41. 2026.10.19 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

As of 2:28 p.m. on October 19, the KOSPI was trading at 5,673.24, up 0.09% (5.19 points) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 5,488.41, down more than 3%, but turned higher during the session.

Buying by foreign and institutional investors appears to be driving the turnaround. Foreign investors were net buyers of KRW 385.562 billion, and institutions were net buyers of KRW 875.993 billion, while individual investors were net sellers of KRW 1.652473 trillion.

Sector performance was mixed. Pharmaceuticals (5.29%), metals (3.44%), chemicals (2.57%), transportation and storage (1.55%), and electricity and gas (1.48%) were higher, while medical and precision instruments (-4.92%), textiles and apparel (-1.92%), and electrical and electronics (-0.78%) were trading slightly lower or flat.

Among the largest companies by market capitalization, Samsung Electronics, ranked No. 1, (-0.2%) and SK hynix, ranked No. 2, (-2.6%) were trading slightly lower or flat. LG Energy Solution (6.2%), meanwhile, rose on gains in its share price, overtaking SK Square to become the third-largest company by market capitalization. SK Square (-3.8%), previously ranked third, fell to fourth. Samsung SDI (10.1%), Samsung Biologics (9.5%), and Hyundai Motor (3.3%) posted strong gains, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-3.8%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.4%), and Samsung C&T (-2.0%) were weaker.

The KOSDAQ was also trading at 795.71, up 0.12% (0.93 points) from the previous trading day. It opened at 773.06, down more than 2%. Foreign investors were net sellers of KRW 107.146 billion, while individuals and institutions were net buyers of KRW 77.784 billion and KRW 18.047 billion, respectively.

Sector performance was mixed. Financial services (4.36%), publishing and reproduction of recorded media (4.28%), metals (2.78%), and paper and wood (2.33%) were strong, while non-metallic minerals (-3.31%), machinery and equipment (-1.66%), and distribution (-1.10%) were weaker.

Among the largest companies by market capitalization, the top three -- Alteogen (0.4%), EcoPro (7.5%), and EcoPro BM (5.6%) -- were all trading higher or flat. Semiconductor-related stocks, including EO Technics (-4.9%), Jusung Engineering (-4.0%), and Wonik IPS (-2.5%), were weaker.

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