Amid foreign selling, the KOSPI index opened slightly lower on the 9th. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are also trading more than 2% lower than the previous day.
The KOSDAQ index opened slightly higher on individual buying, but immediately turned lower and is moving around the 940 level.
As of 9:21 a.m., the KOSPI index is at 4,512.44, down 39.93 points (0.88%) from the previous day. The KOSPI index started the session at 4,530.03, down 22.34 points from the prior trading day, turned higher intraday, then fell back into a decline.
In the main board, foreigners are dragging the index down. Foreign investors are net sellers of 701.3 billion won. Individuals and institutions are stepping in to buy 540.9 billion won and 141.9 billion won, respectively, to defend against the index's decline.
Samsung Electronics fell more than 2% early in the session. Samsung Electronics announced an earnings surprise of 20 trillion won in quarterly operating profit the previous day, but it is falling for a second straight trading day. SK hynix is also down more than 3% today. After rising for 11 consecutive trading days, SK hynix appears to be seeing profit-taking.
On the 7th (local time), after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would increase next year's defense budget to $1.5 trillion, Hanwha Aerospace is up more than 6%. Shipbuilding and defense stocks such as HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (1.72%) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (2.94%) are strong.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index is at 939.37, down 4.69 points (0.5%) from the previous day. The KOSDAQ index opened at 944.74, up 0.68 points from the prior trading day, but turned lower intraday.
In the KOSDAQ market as well, foreigners are pushing the index down with 70 billion won in net selling. Individuals and institutions are buying 49 billion won and 29.9 billion won, respectively, to stem the index's decline.
Eight of the top 10 KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization have turned "blue." ABL Bio is plunging more than 3%, and bio stocks including LigaChem Biosciences, HLB, and Peptron are also down more than 1%.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,453.8 won, up 3.2 won from the previous day.