[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-il ] While the KOSPI gave up its early gains and turned lower, the KOSDAQ continued its strong performance, rising more than 5% after the 17th buy-side circuit breaker of the year was triggered.

According to MP Doctor on the 4th, as of 1:25 p.m. today, the KOSPI is trading at 6,193.50, down 63.95 points (1.02%) from the previous trading day. In contrast, the KOSDAQ is up 39.18 points (5.31%) to 776.53.

By investor type, on the KOSPI, retail investors are buying 693.6 billion won worth of stocks, while institutions and foreign investors are selling 676.7 billion won and 97.4 billion won worth, respectively. On the KOSDAQ, institutions are driving the index higher by buying 451.6 billion won worth of stocks. In contrast, retail investors and foreign investors are selling 196.4 billion won and 249.6 billion won worth, respectively.

On the KOSDAQ market, the 17th buy-side sidecar of the year (temporary suspension of buy orders in program trading) was triggered at 10:47 a.m. today. This marks the second consecutive day following the previous day’s activation. So far this year, the KOSDAQ market has triggered a total of 30 sidecars, including 17 buy-side and 13 sell-side sidecars. This marks the highest number of activations since the sidecar system was introduced to the KOSDAQ market in March 2001. The front-month KOSDAQ 150 futures contract rose 6.09% from the previous day, and the KOSDAQ 150 Index rose 6.50%, meeting the activation criteria.

By sector, on the KOSPI, construction (7.22%), metals (4.93%), and telecommunications (4.92%) showed strength, while electrical and electronics (-2.55%), transportation equipment and parts (-1.45%), and textiles and apparel (-0.83%) were weak. On the KOSDAQ, the general services (9.46%), pharmaceuticals (7.35%), and medical and precision equipment (5.88%) sectors led the gains.

Among the top market-cap stocks, SamsungElectronics(005930)(-2.71%), SK hynix(000660)(-2.94%), and SamsungElectronics(1P)(005935)(-2.92%) are trading lower. In contrast, SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)(2.60%) and LG Energy Solution(373220)(2.37%) are trading higher. On the KOSDAQ market, ABL Bio Inc.(298380)(14.00%) surged sharply, while Alteogen Inc.(196170)(9.13%), HLB INC.(028300)(9.06%), Peptron, Inc.(087010)(9.17%), ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)(5.94%), ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)(4.24%), and JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)(4.54%) are showing strength.

By stock, the KOSPI market saw 689 stocks rise, 184 fall, and 42 remain unchanged. In the KOSDAQ market as well, rising stocks numbered 1,404, significantly outnumbering falling stocks (266). Fifty-six stocks remained unchanged, and nine hit their daily price limit. A stock hitting its daily price limit refers to one that has risen by the maximum daily price limit of 30%.

Overnight, U.S. stock markets closed higher across the board. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.32%, setting a new all-time high based on the closing price, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.48% and 2.13%, respectively.

Kang Jin-hyuk, a senior researcher at Shinhan Investment Securities, analyzed, “Amid continued strong earnings from U.S. Big Tech companies and expectations of expanded investment in artificial intelligence (AI), investor sentiment is improving in the domestic stock market, particularly for AI-related stocks.” He added, “However, demand for major semiconductor stocks appears to be dispersing due to concerns over the expansion of China’s Changxin Memory (CXMT) memory factory.”