[Edaily Reporter KIM YOON-JEONG ] The KOSPI is testing the 7,000 level on the 10th, fluctuating around it during the trading session. Although it fell as low as the 6,800 level during the session due to high oil prices stemming from Middle East tensions and rising U.S. long-term Treasury yields, it has since narrowed its losses and is attempting to recover the 7,000 mark. With the simultaneous expiration of futures and options contracts and the Korea Exchange (KRX) sector index’s scheduled revision approaching, volatility in supply and demand appears to be increasing.

According to MP Doctor, as of 1:20 p.m. today, the KOSPI index stood at 6,999.84 based on the NexTrade (NXT) composite index, down 51.80 points (0.73%) from the previous trading day.
The KOSPI opened at 7,038.85, down 12.79 points (0.18%) from the previous trading day. It rose as high as 7,072.79 during the session before falling to 6,898.45. Since then, it has been fluctuating around the 7,000 mark.
By investor type, retail investors are supporting the index with net purchases totaling 1.5713 trillion won. In contrast, institutional investors and foreign investors are net sellers, with net sales of 1.5217 trillion won and 1.2038 trillion won, respectively.
Kang Jin-hyuk, an analyst at Shinhan Investment Securities, stated, “The KOSPI is declining as financial investors and foreign investors are selling ahead of U.S. inflation data and Oracle’s earnings release.” He added, “Major artificial intelligence (AI) stocks have given up their gains, causing the index to fall below the 7,000 mark, and it continues to fluctuate around the 60-day moving average.”
He further noted, “Supply and demand dynamics related to ETF rebalancing—driven by ‘Quadruple Witching Day’ and the Korea Exchange’s regular sector index revisions—are at play,” and assessed that “the market appears to be attempting a rebound after forming a short-term bottom around 10:00 a.m.”
High oil prices stemming from instability in the Middle East and rising U.S. long-term Treasury yields are also weighing on the stock market. Overnight, the New York stock market fell for the third consecutive day as international oil prices and Treasury yields rose in tandem. On the 9th (local time), the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.77%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 0.48% and 0.64%, respectively. Amid growing concerns over disruptions to crude oil supplies in the Middle East, Brent crude rose 3.36% to close at $101.21 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 3.25% to close at $96.05. The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note surged to 4.857% during the trading session.
By sector, medical and precision instruments posted the largest gain, rising 1.57%. Insurance (1.09%), real estate (0.68%), and transportation equipment and parts (0.27%) also showed strength. In contrast, the electricity and gas sector fell 2.00%, while chemicals (-1.86%), construction (-1.76%), pharmaceuticals (-1.61%), entertainment and culture (-1.39%), and retail (-1.06%) were also weak.
Most of the top market-cap stocks are trading lower. SamsungElectronics(005930)is trading at 267,750 won, down 1,750 won (0.65%) from the previous trading day. SK hynix(000660)is down 9,000 won (0.48%) to 1,847,000 won.
SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)is down 2.49%, LG Energy Solution(373220)is down 2.43%, SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)is down 2.07%, and SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260)is down 1.86%. In contrast, KB Financial Group(105560)is up 1.05%, SamsungElectronics(1P)(005935)is up 0.91%, and Samsung Life Insurance(032830)is up 0.33%.
The KOSDAQ market turned positive after falling more than 2% early in the session. As of this writing, the KOSDAQ index stands at 830.44, up 0.07 points (0.01%) from the previous trading day.
In the KOSDAQ market, institutions are net buying 443.4 billion won worth of stocks, while retail investors are net buying 51.8 billion won worth. Foreign investors are net selling 490.1 billion won worth of stocks.
Among the top-market-cap stocks, Alteogen Inc.(196170)is down 1.97%, ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)is down 1.73%, and ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)is down 1.04%. In contrast, JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)is surging 11.38%, HPSP Co., Ltd.(403870)is up 3.21%, ROBOTIS(108490)is up 2.58%, and WONIK IPS Co.,Ltd.(240810)is up 2.08%.