[Edaily Reporter Hyera Lee ] The KOSPI opened higher on the first trading day of the second half of the year. However, with concerns persisting that a large volume of sell orders could flood the market ahead of the National Pension Service’s portfolio rebalancing, all eyes are on whether the index can sustain its early gains throughout the day.

According to MP Doctor on the 1st, as of 9:34 a.m., the KOSPI was trading at 8,459.54, down 9.23 points (0.14%) from the previous trading day.
The index opened with a jump of over 1% in early trading, driven by strong performance from top-market-cap stocks, particularly semiconductor stocks. However, the index has since retreated as semiconductor stocks have turned lower.
By investor type, institutional buying is leading the market. Institutions have been net buyers on the KOSPI market for three consecutive days as of today. However, foreign investors and retail investors are selling. Foreign investors are net sellers for the ninth consecutive trading day, having sold 256.4 billion won worth of shares as of this time. Retail investors have switched to net selling for the first time in four trading days, recording a net selling position of 266.3 billion won.
Program trading shows a net selling position of 170.4 billion won, combining both arbitrage and non-arbitrage trades.
Top-market-cap stocks are showing a sharp decline in early trading. Only three of the top 10 market-cap stocks are trading higher.
SK hynix(000660), which had shown a gain in the 2% range immediately after the market opened, is currently down by about 1%. At the same time, SamsungElectronics(005930), SKSQUARE(402340), LG Energy Solution(373220), Samsung Life Insurance(032830), SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260), and SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940) are all down.
On the other hand, SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)and HyundaiMotor(005380)are rising by about 3% and 1%, respectively.
In the KOSPI market, by individual stock, there are 567 gainers (including one hitting the daily upper limit), 265 losers (including one hitting the daily lower limit), and 53 stocks trading flat.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index is trading at 927.17 points, up 10.07 points (1.10%) from the previous trading day.
The index opened with a gain in the 0.8% range. After trading in a slightly flat range for a time, the index successfully turned higher at 9:12 a.m. today and is now extending its gains.
In the KOSDAQ market, a battle over supply and demand is unfolding between foreign investors and institutional investors. Institutions are net buyers of 39.5 billion won, while foreign investors are selling off nearly 100 billion won worth of shares. Retail investors are net buyers of around 88.3 billion won and are increasing their buying volume.
Most of the top-market-cap stocks are in the red.
Among the top 10 stocks by market capitalization, six— Alteogen Inc.(196170), Rainbow Robotics(277810), LEENO Industrial Inc(058470), and #INICS Corporation—are currently trading higher.
On the other hand, ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)and ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)are down 7.41% and 4.84%, respectively. ECOPRO BM CO., LTD. announced after the close of regular trading yesterday that it had decided to conduct a rights offering followed by a public offering of unsubscribed shares to raise approximately 1.2 trillion won. The scale of the capital increase corresponds to 8.61% of the company’s market capitalization at the close of regular trading the previous day. The holding company, ECOPRO CO., LTD., has decided to participate in the rights offering. On the day the rights offering was announced, ECOPRO BM CO., LTD. and ECOPRO saw their losses widen to as much as 20% in after-hours trading.
At the same time, on the KOSDAQ market, 1,126 stocks were up—including 9 that hit their daily upper price limit—while 522 were down and 76 remained unchanged.
Across all sectors in both markets, air cargo transportation and logistics, electrical equipment, and energy equipment and services are showing strength, while oil and gas, life insurance, and electronics are weak.
Han Ji-young, an analyst at KIWOOM Securities, said, “Given that the KOSPI 200 Volatility Index (VKOSPI) continues to hover above the 90-point level—making it difficult for the index to pull back—the stock market in July may face pressure from increased volatility, similar to recent trends.” She added, “It is important to note that the second-quarter earnings season is just around the corner.”