The KOSPI index closed slightly lower on the 18th as profit-taking volumes emerged. The KOSDAQ index, which had shown weakness for a while, exhibited a 'key matching' pattern, showing relative strength. There is analysis that a rotation is occurring from leading stocks that have been driving the market's rise to neglected stocks, with the secondary battery sector showing strength on this day.
On this day, the KOSPI index closed at 3,188.07, down 4.22 points (0.13%) from the previous day. The KOSPI index opened 8.15 points (0.26%) higher at 3,200.44, buoyed by the New York stock market's rise the previous night. However, strong selling by individuals led to a reversal during the trading session.
In the securities market, foreigners and institutions showed net buying. While individuals sold off 34.08 billion won, foreigners and institutions net bought 18.77 billion won and 6.20 billion won, respectively.
Kim Ji-won, a researcher at KB Securities, noted, 'The KOSPI index showed a pause and repeated rotation after reaching the 3,200 level, while the KOSDAQ index is relatively strong as key matching is in progress.'
The KOSDAQ index finished at 820.67, up 2.40 points (0.29%) from the previous trading day. In the KOSDAQ market, individuals also engaged in selling. Individuals recorded a net sell of 73.8 billion won, while foreigners and institutions net bought 4.18 billion won and 3.23 billion won, respectively.
Recently, the domestic stock market has shown a prominent rotation from leading stocks to neglected stocks. Profit-taking emerged in sectors such as securities, insurance, cosmetics, holding companies, machinery, and utilities, which had risen sharply until the first half of the year, while the steel and secondary battery sectors are showing a rebound.
In particular, it was a remarkable day for the rebound of secondary battery-related stocks that had been neglected. The news that the U.S. Department of Commerce made a preliminary decision to impose a 93.5% tariff on Chinese graphite, which is a core material used in batteries, had a significant impact.
POSCO FUTURE M and L&F closed up by around 19% and 12%, respectively, while LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI also ended the day on an upward trend. In the KOSDAQ market, Ecopro BM and Ecopro finished strongly.
Researcher Kim said, 'The key matching flow of the neglected secondary battery sector was observed,' adding, 'The expectation of indirect benefits from the news that the U.S. made a preliminary decision to impose a tariff also played a role.'
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, leading players in the semiconductor sector, showed mixed stock performance. Samsung Electronics, which had been weak, rose, while SK hynix fell. Samsung Electronics, which had increased for four consecutive trading days, closed higher, while SK hynix, which had sharply declined the previous day, finished slightly lower.
The researcher stated, 'As relative strength is emerging for Samsung Electronics compared to SK hynix, we need to pay attention to the possibility that the inflow of funds into neglected stocks will continue for the time being.'