[Edaily Reporter PARK MIN ] The domestic stock market is trading slightly flat on the 1st amid the resumption of military clashes between the U.S. and Iran and the resulting rise in oil prices. In particular, the KOSPI is hovering around the 6,800 level as foreign and institutional investors continued to net sell today, following the previous day’s trend, but “other corporations” are propping up the market with net purchases exceeding 1 trillion won.

According to MP Doctor, as of 1:06 p.m. today, the KOSPI is trading at 6,822.25, up 2.23 points (0.03%) from the previous trading day. After a shaky start, with the index falling to 6,732.47 early in the session, it recovered its losses by climbing to 6,857.35 during the session and has since been fluctuating around the 6,800 mark.

By investor type, foreign investors are net sellers of 524.4 billion won and institutional investors of 922.1 billion won, putting pressure on the index. In contrast, retail investors are net buyers of 304.3 billion won. Notably, “other corporations” are buying over 1 trillion won worth of shares, helping to support the index. This is interpreted as share buybacks by SamsungElectronics and SK hynix.

In particular, the fact that South Korea’s semiconductor exports in August reached $98.25 billion—marking the third-highest monthly figure on record—appears to have helped temper selling pressure on SamsungElectronics and SK hynix. Consequently, SamsungElectronics(005930)is trading at 260,500 won, up 0.19% from the previous trading day, while SK hynix(000660)is trading at 1,697,000 won, up 1.37%.

In addition, SamsungElectronics(1P)(005935)(1.55%) and SKSQUARE(402340)(0.68%) continued their upward trend. SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260), expected to benefit from corporate restructuring and value-up initiatives, rose 2.52%, and Samsung Life Insurance(032830)also gained 0.16%.

On the other hand, SamsungElectroMechanics(009150), reflecting concerns over slowing earnings growth, fell 2.06%, while HyundaiMotor(005380)(-0.99%), LG Energy Solution(373220)(-0.93%), and SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)(-0.86%) also posted across-the-board declines.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ is trading at 820.71, down 13.58 points (1.63%) from the previous trading day. The market continues to perform poorly, with selling pressure pushing the index down to an intraday low of 815.52.

By investor type, while retail investors are net buyers of 411.5 billion won, foreign investors and institutions are net sellers of 186.4 billion won and 216.2 billion won, respectively, dragging down the index. While 543 stocks rose, 1,110 fell, meaning there were more than twice as many decliners as gainers.

In particular, large-cap biotech stocks are falling across the board, led by Alteogen Inc.(196170)(-2.11%), followed by HLB INC.(028300)(-2.95%), and PharmaResearch(214450)(-2.70%). Rechargeable batteries, which had received a boost the previous day from positive news regarding the expansion of the U.S. energy storage system (ESS) market, are now seeing profit-taking, with ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)(-3.72%) and ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)(-3.48%) recording declines.

Rainbow Robotics(277810)(-2.50%), as well as semiconductor equipment stocks such as EO Technics Co., Ltd.(039030)(-2.48%), JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)(-1.41%), SIMMTECH Co., Ltd.(222800)(-1.39%), LEENO Industrial Inc(058470)(-1.35%), and WONIK IPS Co.,Ltd.(240810)(-1.17%), are also all trading in the red.

By sector, amid increased oil price volatility, the oil and gas sector rose 3.74%, and the non-life insurance sector (3.19%), where dividend appeal came to the fore, also showed a solid upward trend. Following these, trading companies and retailers (2.89%), gaming and entertainment (1.52%), and air cargo transportation and logistics (1.37%) ranked among the top gainers.

Conversely, cyclical stocks and sectors that had recently experienced sharp short-term gains saw a flood of profit-taking. The electronics sector plunged 4.39%, recording the largest decline, while internet and catalog retail (-3.67%) and construction (-3.67%) also underperformed.

Overnight, the New York stock market closed lower across the board amid renewed military tensions between the U.S. and Iran and upward pressure on international oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 53,185.90, down 0.70% from the previous trading day. The S&P 500 index closed at 7,686.15, down 0.33%, while the Nasdaq Composite closed at 26,370.89, down 0.12%.

However, semiconductor stocks fared relatively well, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rising 0.57% to 11,535.05. NVIDIA closed up 1.48% at $220.78, while Microtechnology (+2.77%), SanDisk (+5.50%), and Qualcomm (+3.83%) also posted gains. SK hynix’s American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), listed on the U.S. stock market, closed up 2.20% at $164.58.