As military clashes between the United States and Iran keep financial markets on edge, the KOSPI index appears on the dealing room ticker at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung District, Seoul, on the 4th. /Courtesy of News1

On the 4th, the KOSPI started lower on concerns that the situation could spread across the Middle East after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

As of 9:02 a.m., the KOSPI was down 336.89 points, or 5.82%, at 5,455.02 from the previous trading day. It was the first time in 11 sessions since on the 11th of last month that the KOSPI fell below the 5,500 level intraday, and a sell-sidecar (temporary suspension of program sell orders) was triggered for a second straight day.

In the main board, individuals were heavy net sellers of stocks worth 1.208 trillion won. Institutions and foreigners were net buyers of 685.0 billion won and 461.1 billion won, respectively.

Among top market-cap stocks, all were weak except Hanwha Aerospace (14.25%). Kia (-6.14%), Samsung Biologics (-5.00%), SK Square (-4.30%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-3.90%), Samsung Electronics (-3.79%), Hyundai Motor (-3.36%) and SK hynix (-2.45%) were declining.

The KOSDAQ was down 56.13 points, or 4.93%, at 1,081.57 at the same time from the previous trading day. The KOSDAQ opened at 1,112.08, down 2.25% from the previous trading day.

On the KOSDAQ, individuals were dumping stocks worth 334.0 billion won. Institutions and foreigners were net buyers of 231.6 billion won and 103.3 billion won, respectively.

Blue lights also came on for top KOSDAQ market-cap stocks. HLB was plunging more than 4%, and Alteogen (-3.92%), Sam Chun Dang Pharm (-3.45%), Kolon TissueGene (-3.24%), LigaChem Biosciences (-2.81%), EcoPro (-2.74%), ABL Bio (-2.71%), Rainbow Robotics (-2.62%) and LEENO Industrial (-2.51%) were weak.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,479 won per $1, up 12.9 won from the previous trading day.

Meanwhile, on the 3rd (local time), New York stocks opened sharply lower as geopolitical risks in the Middle East mounted but pared some losses after U.S. President Donald Trump laid out plans to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.83% at 48,501.27 from the previous trading day. The Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 fell 0.94% to 6,816.63, and the Nasdaq slipped 1.02% to 22,516.69.

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