[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-il ] The domestic stock market turned downward after opening higher. The KOSPI and KOSDAQ, which had risen by about 1% early in the session on the back of bargain-hunting, are now showing a “strong start, weak finish” trend as foreign selling intensifies. Uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East and caution ahead of the U.S. jobs report are dampening investor sentiment, leading to selling pressure, particularly in the semiconductor sector.

According to MP Doctor on the 7th, as of 1:18 p.m., the KOSPI is trading at 6,211.73, down 84.65 points (1.34%) from the previous trading day. There are 383 gainers (including 2 at the daily upper limit), 32 stocks trading flat, and 497 decliners. The KOSDAQ is trading at 781.34, down 20.33 points (2.54%). There are 481 gainers (including 5 hitting the daily upper limit), 82 stocks unchanged, and 1,158 decliners.

By investor type, in the KOSPI market, institutions are net buyers of 474.9 billion won and retail investors are net buyers of 16.1 billion won, but foreign investors are net sellers of 475.9 billion won, leading the index lower. In the KOSDAQ market, retail investors are net buyers of 369.0 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors are net sellers of 224.2 billion won and 154.0 billion won, respectively.

Among the top market-cap stocks, semiconductor stocks continue to weaken. SK hynix(000660)is down 4.62%, and SKSQUARE(402340)is down 3.4%. In contrast, SamsungElectronics(005930)is up 1.08%, SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)is up 4.31%, LG Energy Solution(373220)is up 2.32%, SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)is up 0.73%, KB Financial Group(105560)is up 1.92%, and HyundaiMobis(012330)is up 2.28%. HyundaiMotor(005380)is down 1.75%.

Most of the top KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization are trading lower. Alteogen Inc.(196170)is down 0.17%, ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)is down 0.6%, Rainbow Robotics(277810)is down 7.66%, JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)is down 5.17%, and WONIK IPS Co.,Ltd.(240810)is down 5.83%. On the other hand, ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)is up 0.39%, HLB INC.(028300)is up 2.56%, ABL Bio Inc.(298380)is up 0.72%, and SIMMTECH Co., Ltd.(222800)is up 3.96%.

Some stocks are rising on positive news. POSCO FUTURE M(003670)is up more than 2% following news of a long-term supply agreement for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials with a domestic rechargeable battery manufacturer. As the U.S. has decided to impose a 15% tariff on foreign-made polysilicon derivatives, HANWHA SOLUTIONS(009830), which operates local production facilities in the U.S., is also up by about 8%. In contrast, NAVER(035420)is down more than 6% despite posting its highest quarterly revenue on the back of strong advertising and e-commerce performance, as operating profit declined due to investments in AI infrastructure.

By sector on the KOSPI market, construction (-3.8%) saw the sharpest decline, while securities (-3.04%), metals (-2.35%), telecommunications (-2.22%), insurance (-2.14%), and machinery and equipment (-2.05%) are also showing weakness. Even the construction sector, which had been on a strong run recently on expectations of investments in AI data centers and nuclear power plants, is seeing profit-taking sell-offs, widening the sector-wide decline.

Overnight, all three major U.S. stock indices fell. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.85%, the S&P 500 fell 0.18%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.06%. International oil prices and market interest rates rose amid speculation about potential restrictions on the passage of U.S. and Israeli ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while SanDisk’s disappointing earnings guidance also dampened investor sentiment toward the semiconductor sector.

Kang Jin-hyuk, an analyst at Shinhan Investment Securities, noted, “Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East and a wait-and-see attitude ahead of the U.S. jobs report are weakening the appetite for risky assets,” adding, “Amid mixed sentiment toward semiconductor investments, rotational trading across sectors is continuing.”