[Edaily Reporter Kim Kyung-eun ] The KOSPI is trading slightly flat around the 5,500 level. This mixed performance is attributed to lingering inflation concerns, as well as anticipation of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting and earnings reports from major Big Tech companies.

According to MP Doctor on the 26th, as of 1:20 p.m. that day, the KOSPI was trading at 5,515.51, down 34.79 points (0.63%) from the previous trading day.

The index opened at 5,499.05, down 51.25 points (0.92%) from the previous trading day, and fell as low as 5,455.11 during the session. It subsequently narrowed its losses and recovered to the 5,500 level, but has been unable to break out of the bearish trend.

In particular, selling by foreign investors appears to be driving the index lower. In the stock market, foreign investors have net sold 575.7 billion won, while institutions and individual investors have net bought 401.4 billion won and 141.5 billion won, respectively.

Concerns over high U.S. interest rates and oil prices, as well as doubts about the sustainability of investment in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, are weighing on the stock market. In particular, investor sentiment toward the semiconductor sector has cooled after Tesla CEO Elon Musk mentioned funding constraints for AI data center companies and the possibility of industry restructuring. Attention is expected to focus on the scale of AI capital expenditures and profitability when major Big Tech companies such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon report their earnings this week.

Kang Jin-hyuk, a senior analyst at Shinhan Investment Securities, noted, “Amid persistent AI-related anxiety and inflation concerns, the market is awaiting major events such as key corporate earnings reports and the FOMC meeting.”

The two stocks with the highest market capitalizations are showing mixed performance. SamsungElectronics(005930)is trading at 214,750 won, down 0.35% from the previous trading day. In contrast, SK hynix(000660)is up 1.02% at 1.29 million won. SK hynix is holding up relatively well, driven by the suspension of its subsidiary Solidigm’s U.S. initial public offering (IPO) review and expectations of expanded shareholder returns.

Among other top-market-cap stocks, HyundaiMotor(005380)(-1.69%), KB Financial Group(105560)(-4.18%), Celltrion(068270)(-2.26%), KIA CORPORATION(000270)(-1.22%), ShinhanFinancialGroup Co.,Ltd.(055550)(-2.72%), HANWHA AEROSPACE(012450)(-5.05%), DOOSAN ENERBILITY(034020)(-1.85%), and HD HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES(329180)(-3.61%) are all down. On the other hand, SAMSUNG C&T CORPORATION(028260)(2.43%), SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD.(006400)(1.94%), SK (1.50%), Samsung Life Insurance(032830)(1.22%), and SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)(0.62%) are on the rise.

The KOSDAQ market is also down. As of this writing, the KOSDAQ index stands at 739.30, down 12.39 points (1.65%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 742.17, down 9.52 points (1.27%) from the previous trading day, and has been fluctuating since then.

By investor type, retail investors are net buyers of 104.7 billion won, while foreign and institutional investors are net sellers of 28.1 billion won and 74.4 billion won, respectively.

The top two stocks by market capitalization are also both down. Alteogen Inc.(196170)is trading at 222,000 won, down 1.11% from the previous close. ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520) is also down 1.38%, trading at 71,700 won.

Among other top-market-cap stocks, ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)(-0.65%), JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)(-5.56%), HLB INC.(028300)(-3.49%), and EO Technics Co., Ltd.(039030)(-4.58%) are also down. In contrast, robotics stocks such as Rainbow Robotics(277810)(2.13%) and ROBOTIS(108490)(13.56%) are on the rise.