[Edaily Reporter Shin Ha-yeon ] The KOSPI, which had been fluctuating within a narrow range, is now extending its intraday losses. This is believed to be due to renewed military clashes between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend, which have affected investor sentiment.

According to MP Doctor on the 13th, as of 9:54 a.m. today, the KOSPI is trading at 7,289.92, down 186.02 points (2.49%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 7,412.03, down 0.85% from the previous day, and although it managed to turn positive during the session, it soon slipped back into negative territory.

Investor sentiment is believed to have been dampened as geopolitical tensions escalated over the weekend following the resumption of armed conflict between the United States and Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) re-blockaded the Strait of Hormuz 24 days after the U.S. and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 17th of last month, which called for the immediate reopening of the strait once both sides entered a 60-day ceasefire.

In response, U.S. airstrikes against Iran began at 6:00 a.m. on the 13th (Korean time). U.S. Central Command announced on the 12th (local time) that it had launched additional airstrikes against Iran for threatening merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and posted on social media platform X: “At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, we launched additional airstrikes to continue degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian sailors and merchant ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

In terms of supply and demand, foreign investors and institutions are currently net sellers of 181 billion won and 51.4 billion won, respectively, on the stock market. Retail investors are the only group showing net buying, at 226.5 billion won. Program trading, combining arbitrage and non-arbitrage trades, shows a net selling position of 301.8 billion won.

By sector, the market is mixed. The chemicals sector is up by around 4%. Metals, textiles and apparel, transportation equipment and parts, securities, entertainment and culture, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages, tobacco, medical and precision instruments, transportation and warehousing, non-metals, IT services, and paper and wood are all showing strength. In contrast, electrical and electronics, manufacturing, insurance, telecommunications, and finance are weak.

Among the top market-cap stocks, SamsungElectronics(005930)is trading at 280,000 won, down 5,000 won (1.75%) from the previous trading day. SK hynix(000660)is trading at 2,037,000 won, down 143,000 won (6.56%).

In addition, SKSQUARE(402340)(-8.66%) and SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)(-9.15%) are also trading lower. On the other hand, HyundaiMotor(005380)(4.15%), LG Energy Solution(373220)(5.98%), KB Financial Group(105560)(5.42%), and SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)(2.65%) are trading higher.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ market is trading at 855.06, up 17.63 points (2.11%) from the previous trading day. In terms of supply and demand, retail and institutional investors are net buyers of 75.8 billion won and 69.6 billion won, respectively. Foreign investors are the only net sellers, with net sales of 140.9 billion won.

Most of the top market-cap stocks are trading higher. Alteogen Inc.(196170)(5.25%), ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)(3.37%), ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)(2.10%), JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)(8.56%), WONIK IPS Co.,Ltd.(240810)(7.84%), and LEENO Industrial Inc(058470)(5.96%) are all on the rise.