[Edaily Reporter Hyera Lee ] Both markets opened lower.

According to MP Doctor on the 8th, as of 9:16 a.m., the KOSPI was trading at 7,518.40, down 137.75 points (1.80%) from the previous trading day.
Overnight on the New York Stock Exchange, the three major indices all fell due to factors such as a sharp drop in major semiconductor stocks and a surge in international oil prices.
On the 7th (local time), the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 52,925.15, down 130.76 points (0.25%) from the previous trading day. The S&P 500 index closed at 7,503.85, down 33.58 points (0.45%) from the previous session, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 25,818.69, down 302.47 points (1.16%) from the previous session. This was largely due to a sharp decline in major semiconductor stocks such as Micron, Intel, and SanDisk, which dampened investor sentiment.
The KOSPI also got off to a weak start, with top-market-cap stocks—including semiconductor stocks such as SamsungElectronics(005930) and SK hynix(000660) —showing steep declines early in the session. The index briefly fell 3.81% during the day, hitting a low of around 7,360. However, it is noteworthy that the decline is narrowing, as SK hynix, for example, shifted to a slightly higher level during the session.
While foreign and institutional investors are buying in tandem, retail investors are taking profits. As of this writing, retail investors are net sellers by 630.2 billion won, maintaining a net selling position. Although retail investors had been net buyers in the 7 trillion won range on the KOSPI market since the start of this week, they switched to selling after just three days. Foreign investors have turned to net buying for the first time in 14 trading days. However, the scale of their buying is not large; they currently hold a net buying position of 185.6 billion won. Institutions, led by financial investment firms and pension funds, are buying 462.0 billion won worth of stocks.
Program trading shows a net buying position of 183.9 billion won, combining arbitrage and non-arbitrage trades.
Top-market-cap stocks are on a downward trend. Among the top 10 stocks, all but KIA CORPORATION(000270)are falling. SamsungElectronics and SK hynix are down by 3% and 2%, respectively. In addition, stocks such as SKSQUARE(402340), SamsungElectroMechanics(009150), SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260), and SamsungElectroMechanics(009150) —which had been rising in tandem on the back of the AI-driven semiconductor boom—are also down by 6–7%.
On the KOSPI market, 112 stocks are up, 741 are down, and 127 are unchanged.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index is trading at 811.85 points, down 20.49 points (2.47%) from the previous trading day.
While institutions are net buyers of 18.1 billion won, retail investors and foreign investors are selling. Retail investors and foreign investors are net sellers of 6.0 billion won and 14.9 billion won, respectively.
In the KOSDAQ market as well, stocks with the highest market capitalization are trending downward. Among the top 10 stocks, all are falling except for Kolon TissueGene, Inc.(950160), which is trading slightly higher.
In the KOSDAQ market, by individual stock, 319 stocks are rising—including three that have hit their daily upper price limit—while 1,314 are falling and 86 are unchanged.
Across both markets, sectors such as display panels, stationery, and electronics are showing strength, while electrical equipment, life insurance, department stores, and general retail are weak.
Securities analysts are emphasizing that for the market to shift into a full-fledged downtrend, factors such as earnings peaking out and profit declines in the next quarter would need to materialize, but no such signals have emerged yet.
Han Ji-young, an analyst at KIWOOM Securities, stated, “Even this month, the KOSPI has experienced extreme volatility—including three side-car triggers (one buy, two sell) and one circuit breaker—which appears to be adding to investors’ confusion,” adding “The problem is that continuous exposure to volatility beyond normal levels is causing even positive factors to be interpreted negatively—such as negative news or a peak in upside catalysts,” she said. He continued, “As we go through the second-quarter earnings season, there is a risk of falling into a valuation illusion if downward revisions to KOSPI earnings estimates materialize,” but added, “However, considering that the balance still tilts more toward upward revisions than downward ones, I judge that the probability of falling into a valuation illusion is not high at this point.”