The KOSPI index fell slightly on the first transaction day of the new year, unable to reclaim the 2400 level on the 2nd. The decline in the U.S. stock market for four consecutive transactions has led to growing caution in the global stock market, compounded by visible slowdowns in China's manufacturing sector.
On that day, the KOSPI index recorded 2398.94, down 0.55 points (0.02%) from the previous transaction day, showing a five-day decline since Dec. 24 of last year. The index started at 2400.87, up 0.06% from the previous transaction day, fluctuating within a narrow range before turning downward after the release of Chinese manufacturing data.
In the stock market, foreign investors and institutional investors sold a net total of 239.8 billion won and 199.2 billion won, respectively. Individual investors alone bought 355.9 billion won net, helping to defend against the index's decline. Foreign investors also sold a net 513.9 billion won in the KOSPI 200 futures market.
The overall bearish trend in the Asian stock markets put additional pressure on the KOSPI index. The purchasing managers' index (PMI) for manufacturing in December released by the Chinese financial information provider Caixin recorded 50.5, showing weaker performance compared to market expectations of 51.7. Consequently, the Shanghai Composite (-2.82%), Shenzhen Composite (-2.73%), Hong Kong's Hang Seng (-2.25%), and Taiwan's TAIEX (-0.88%) all declined. Reports from some media about a surge in respiratory disease cases in China are also believed to have contributed to the stock market's downturn.
Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "The U.S. stock market has ended four consecutive transaction declines amid profit-taking sales and concerns over Government Bonds rates, leading to increased caution. In this context, trade tensions between the U.S. and China, softening global demand, and rising raw material prices are analyzed to negatively affect corporations’ sentiment, resulting in an overall decline in the Asian stock markets."
Samsung Electronics, the top stock by market capitalization, showed a downward trend from the start and finished the trading session slightly higher (up 0.38%). Following profit-taking movements focused on technology stocks in the U.S. market, domestic secondary battery companies like LG Chem, LG Energy Solution, and POSCO Holdings, as well as semiconductor stocks such as SK Hynix and DB HiTek, closed lower.
After Samsung Electronics exercised a call option to become the largest shareholder of Rainbow Robotics, both Rainbow Robotics and Doosan Robotics surged 28.11% compared to the previous trading day. Conversely, concerns over rising U.S. 10-year Government Bonds rates increased, negatively impacting stocks related to pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, such as Celltrion, Samsung Biologics, and Green Cross.
The Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced plans to promote a special program worth 95 trillion won over the next five years to support large-scale contracts in areas such as construction, infrastructure, nuclear power, and defense. Following this announcement, defense-related stocks like LIG Nex1 and Hanwha Aerospace, as well as nuclear-related companies like LS ELECTRIC and Hyosung Heavy Industries, closed higher. Hyundai Glovis soared 13.29% following news of a maritime transportation contract worth 6.7 trillion won.
The KOSDAQ index recorded 686.63, up 8.44 points (1.24%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 678.98, up 0.79 points (0.12%), and rose to 687.25 before slightly reducing its gains by the close.
Among the top market capitalization stocks, Alteogen, Ecopro, and Ecopro Biome fell. Following the news of its absorption by Samsung Electronics, Rainbow Robotics headed straight for the upper limit, closing up 29.99% at 211,500 won compared to the previous trading day. As a result, Rainbow Robotics (market capitalization of 4.1 trillion won) surpassed LigaChem Biosciences (3.9 trillion won) to become the fifth largest company in the KOSDAQ market.
In addition to Rainbow Robotics, four stocks—Hyzen RNM, SP Systems, SBV Tech, and Elensys—hit the upper limit. Additionally, robot-related stocks such as Klobot, KRN Systems, and SPG surged. After significant volatility right after its public offering, WYSIWYG Studios, related to the Netflix drama series "Squid Game" Season 2, finished trading up 13.47% at 1,567 won, following news of becoming the top player globally.
On that day, the weekly transaction closing price of the won against the U.S. dollar in the Seoul foreign exchange market recorded 1,466.6 won, down 5.9 won from the previous transaction day.