On the 10th, the KOSPI index opened slightly higher ahead of the U.S. benchmark interest rate decision.
As of 9:11 a.m. that day, the KOSPI index was at 4,162.45, up 18.9 points (0.46%) from the previous trading day. The KOSPI index began the session at 4,159.05, up 0.37% from the previous trading day.
In the main board, foreigners alone bought stocks worth 93.3 billion won, lifting the index. Individuals and institutions net sold 89.5 billion won and 5.3 billion won, respectively.
Blue chips turned higher. SK hynix jumped 4.24%, and Doosan Enerbility (1.04%), Samsung Electronics (0.74%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (0.17%) were also gaining. In contrast, Hanwha Aerospace (-2.19%), Hyundai Motor (-1.71%), and Samsung Biologics (-1.02%) were weak.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index was trading at 931.77, up 0.42 point (0.05%) from the previous trading day. The KOSDAQ index started at 932.37, up 0.11% from the previous trading day.
In the KOSDAQ market, only individuals were net buyers, at 165.7 billion won. Foreigners and institutions sold 97.0 billion won and 54.0 billion won, respectively.
Top KOSDAQ market-cap stocks were declining. Alteogen, Kolon TissueGene, and HLB were down in the 1% range, while Rainbow Robotics (-0.98%), LigaChem Biosciences (-0.71%), EcoPro (-0.42%), ABL Bio (-0.32%), and Peptron (-0.19%) were edging lower. Sam Chun Dang Pharm and EcoPro BM rose 3.08% and 0.49%, respectively.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market that day, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,470 won per $1, down 2.3 won from the previous trading day.
Meanwhile, on the 9th (local time) in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 47,560.29, down 0.38% from the previous trading day. The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 fell 0.09% to 6,840.51, while the Nasdaq rose 0.13% to 23,576.49.
Markets were mixed ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision on benchmark interest rates. Markets are betting the FOMC will carry out a 0.25-percentage-point rate cut.
U.S. investment analyst Brett Kenwell said, "For now, a rate cut is nearly certain, and the Federal Reserve's (Fed) economic outlook and remarks by Chair Jerome Powell will have a big impact on the market," adding, "They could determine the trend not only for this week but for the rest of this month."