On the 27th, the KOSPI index fell back for a day due to the ex-dividend date effect. As many dividend stocks were available for dividend payments until the previous day, it seems that investors seeking dividend revenue flocked out. The strong dollar trend also seems to have affected the drop in the index.
On that day, the KOSPI index closed at 2,621.75, down 19.34 points (0.73%) from the previous trading day. The KOSPI index started at 2,638.47, down 2.62 points (0.1%). In the securities market, foreigners and institutions sold 240.1 billion won and 279.2 billion won, respectively, while individuals purchased 484 billion won.
In the securities market, all but Kia (0.53%) among the top 10 companies by market capitalization fell. Despite NVIDIA, a U.S. semiconductor company influencing investment sentiment in the semiconductor sector, reporting strong performance the previous day, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell by 0.53% and 1.87%, respectively.
LG Energy Solution fell 0.94%, and Samsung Biologics also decreased by 0.77%. Additionally, Hyundai Motor (-2.2%), Celltrion (-3.49%), Naver (NAVER) (-5.4%), KB Financial (-0.86%), and Hanwha Aerospace (-3.42%) showed weakness.
The KOSDAQ index recorded a drop of 0.56 points (0.07%) to 770.85 compared to the previous day. In the KOSDAQ market, foreigners and institutions sold a net 55.5 billion won and 26.5 billion won, respectively, while individuals purchased a net 84.4 billion won.
The top 10 companies by market capitalization on the KOSDAQ showed a mixed trend. EcoPro and ECOPRO BM, both related to secondary batteries, fell by 1.93% and 3.32%, respectively, while beauty and medical device companies CLASSYS (19.14%) and HUGEL (1.85%) saw increases. Alteogen rose by 2.03%, but fellow biopharmaceutical companies Sam Chun Dang Pharm and LigaChem Biosciences fell by 0.84% and 1.67%, respectively.
Lee Jae-won, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., noted, "The ex-dividend date effect caused large-cap stocks in financial holding, automobiles, and telecommunications to experience significant declines, acting as downward pressure on the index," and added, "The strong dollar, influenced by the U.S. hinting at imposing tariffs on Europe, led to foreigners continuing net selling in both spot and futures markets for six consecutive trading days."
As of the market closing time, the won-dollar exchange rate recorded 1,442.9 won, up 9.1 won from the previous day. Lee Kyung-min, head of the investment strategy team at DAISHIN SECURITIES, said, "There were many sell-offs due to increased exchange rate volatility," and added, "In particular, the defense industry, which has risen significantly, showed weakness."