Foreign investors net bought 5.5056 trillion won in South Korea's KOSPI market from the 20th to the 23rd, marking the first 4-day consecutive buying streak since April. This follows a first half in which foreign investors net sold 143.1103 trillion won, with Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix accounting for 90.62% of selling. SK Hynix (999.1 billion won) and Samsung Electronics (855.6 billion won) topped the net purchase list for the 20th-24th period, signaling potential improvement in foreign investor sentiment toward semiconductor large-cap stocks.
Foreign Investors Record 4-Day Buying Streak in KOSPI
According to the Korea Exchange on the 28th, foreign investors net bought 5.5056 trillion won in the securities market from the 20th to the 23rd. This 4-day consecutive net buying streak represents the first such pattern since April.
On the 24th, foreign investors shifted to net selling, offloading over 3 trillion won in a single day as risk-averse sentiment spread due to surging international oil prices and rising US Treasury yields. For the week spanning the 20th to the 24th, foreign investors' net purchases in the securities market totaled approximately 2.1071 trillion won.
During the same period, SK Hynix (999.1 billion won) and Samsung Electronics (855.6 billion won) ranked first and second in foreign investor net purchases.
Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Dominate First Half Selling
In the first half of this year, foreign investors net sold 143.1103 trillion won in the securities market, with Samsung Electronics (72.5655 trillion won) and SK Hynix (57.1269 trillion won) ranking first and second in net selling.
The combined net selling of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix reached 129.6924 trillion won, accounting for 90.62% of total securities market net selling. This occurred even as the KOSPI surged 101.14% (from 4214.17 to 8476.48) in the first half, driven by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
During this period, Samsung Electronics rose 108.09% (from 119,900 won to 249,500 won), and SK Hynix climbed 170.20% (from 651,000 won to 1,759,000 won).
Hana Securities Analyst Links KOSPI Recovery to Foreign Investor Flows
Industry observers note that given the scale of foreign investor selling to date, additional selling pressure may be limited. They agree that foreign investor supply and demand serves as a key determinant for KOSPI recovery.
Lee Kyung-soo, a researcher at Hana Securities, stated, "Foreign investors will determine whether the KOSPI falls further. If foreign buying continues, bottom-fishing becomes possible based on an expected return of 15-25% one year out."
Lee added, "For the time being, it is appropriate to trade in the same direction as foreign investor flows while monitoring the exchange rate atmosphere, and it is necessary to confirm whether foreign investors' buying stance is maintained."
Considering past instances such as the China and Dubai shocks—when foreign buying and individual selling patterns were distinct and index rebounds occurred—a sustained foreign 'buying' stance could support KOSPI recovery.
FAQ
What did foreign investors do in Korean stocks from the 20th to the 23rd?
Foreign investors net bought 5.5056 trillion won in the KOSPI market from the 20th to the 23rd, marking the first 4-day consecutive buying streak since April.
How much did foreign investors sell in the first half of the year?
Foreign investors net sold 143.1103 trillion won in the securities market during the first half, with Samsung Electronics (72.5655 trillion won) and SK Hynix (57.1269 trillion won) accounting for 90.62% of total selling.
Which stocks did foreign investors buy the most from the 20th to the 24th?
SK Hynix topped the list with 999.1 billion won in net purchases, followed by Samsung Electronics with 855.6 billion won during the 20th-24th period.
