Korean Stock Market Evening Review

Reference time: 2026 September 02 Wednesday 19:50 KST

Risk aversion intensified as renewed armed conflict between the United States and Iran drove up both oil prices and government bond yields. Foreign investors and institutions sold more than KRW 4 trillion on the KOSPI, sending the index down 3.99%.

The KOSPI closed at 6,562.72, down 273.08 points, or 3.99%, from the previous session. It opened at 6,625.47, down 3.08%. The index briefly pared its losses during the session but fell again and surrendered the 6,600 level after one day.

The KOSDAQ closed at 803.98, down 17.27 points, or 2.10%, from the previous session. It opened at 802.8, down 2.25%.

The KOSPI’s 3.99% decline was one of its larger daily losses since this summer. Selling by foreign investors and institutions spread to leading semiconductor, automobile, and shipbuilding stocks.

Foreign investors recorded net sales of approximately 1 trillion won and 9,094 hundred-million won on the KOSPI. Institutions recorded net sales of approximately 2 trillion won and 434 hundred-million won, although some tallies put the figure at 2 trillion won and 4,333 hundred-million won. Combined selling by the two groups exceeded KRW 4 trillion. Retail investors recorded net purchases of approximately 2 trillion won and 3,023 hundred-million won. Other corporations, whose purchases were presumed to include treasury-share purchases by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, recorded net purchases of approximately 1 trillion won and 6,504 hundred-million won, helping support the lower end of the market.

On the KOSDAQ, institutions recorded net sales of approximately 2,320 hundred-million won, while retail investors recorded net purchases of approximately 1,727 hundred-million won. Foreign-investor figures differed by tally, ranging from +617 hundred-million won to -629 hundred-million won.

There was effectively only one area of strength. Medical and precision equipment was the sole sector to rise, gaining +0.97%. Some semiconductor materials, components, and equipment stocks held up on company-specific catalysts.

Weakness was widespread. Transportation equipment and components fell -5.34%, electrical and electronics -4.34%, machinery and equipment -4.32%, manufacturing -4.19%, and distribution by more than -4%. Banks and insurers posted relatively smaller declines on expectations that they would benefit from high interest rates and a stronger won.

Samsung Electronics fell 10,500 won, or -4.02%, to 250,500 won. SK hynix fell 80,000 won, or -4.73%, to 1,613,000 won. Their daily trading volumes were approximately 1,516 ten-thousand shares and 253 ten-thousand shares, respectively.

Other large-cap stocks also declined: Hyundai Motor 378,000 won (-5.62%), Hyundai Mobis -6.31%, SK Square -7.97%, LG Energy Solution -5.31%, and Samsung Life Insurance -5.01%. Shipbuilding, power equipment, and secondary-battery stocks also posted steep losses: HD Hyundai Electric -7.54%, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering -6.79%, EcoPro BM -7.06%, and POSCO Future M -8.00%.

By contrast, among semiconductor materials, components, and equipment stocks, ISC rose +8.53% and TSE gained +4.93%. RFsemi surged +75.68% on an individual stock move.

1. Renewed armed conflict between the United States and Iran increased concerns about supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. WTI closed at 90.22 dollars per barrel, up 5.2%, while Brent crude closed at 94.65 dollars, up 4.6%. https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2026090215514382923

2. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield approached 4.8%, while Japan’s 10-year yield exceeded 3%. Rising long-term interest rates in developed markets increased the shift away from risk assets. https://www.m-i.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1409226

3. Purchases by other corporations, presumed to include treasury-share purchases by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, have continued since the 20th of last month and helped support the lower end of the index. https://www.mt.co.kr/stock/2026/09/02/2026090210461191607

4. Dell Technologies of the United States announced its results after the local market closed on September 1. Second-quarter revenue was 470 hundred-million dollars (+58%), and its AI server order backlog reached a record high. The stock rose sharply in after-hours trading. The signal of AI server demand was a positive factor for sentiment toward Korean semiconductor stocks. https://www.investing.com/news/earnings/dell-stock-soars-10-after-hours-on-quarterly-results-raised-full-year-guidance-4884587

5. KOSPI200 overnight futures traded more than 3% lower, reflecting risk-averse sentiment. https://www.mt.co.kr/stock/2026/09/02/2026090208591584240

Han Ji-young, a researcher at 키움증권, as quoted by the media: He said the burden of rising oil prices and interest rates, together with weakness in overnight futures, led to the lower opening. He viewed confirmation of an easing in the U.S.-Iran conflict and stabilization in long-term interest rates in developed markets as the basis for the response. His assessment identified external macroeconomic conditions as the cause of today’s sharp decline.

Lee Sang-yeon, a researcher at 신영증권, as quoted by the media: He expected a wait-and-see stance to continue for the time being because there was no strong catalyst for a rise. His assessment described today’s market as lacking the domestic momentum needed to lead a rebound.

Lee Jun-young, a researcher at 유진투자증권, as quoted by the media: He said foreign-investor flows were concentrating in sectors whose earnings would not be damaged by a stronger won and pointed first to banks and insurers. His assessment explained why financial stocks declined less than the broader market.

Common ground: All three attributed the root of the sharp decline to higher oil prices and interest rates caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict.

Difference: 키움증권 viewed confirmation of stabilization in the conflict and interest rates as the key issue, while 유진투자증권 narrowed its focus to sectors that benefit from a stronger won.

Link to tomorrow: Whether oil prices and U.S. long-term interest rates stabilize, and whether Dell’s results revive sentiment toward semiconductor stocks, will determine the prospects for a rebound.

No individual major disclosure capable of changing the market’s direction was identified between 15:30 and 19:50. There were no major disclosures other than treasury-share purchases.

The won-dollar exchange rate fell 2.3 won from the previous session to 1,368.1 won. The won strengthened despite the sharp decline in stocks.

WTI closed at 90.22 dollars per barrel (+5.2%), while Brent crude closed at 94.65 dollars (+4.6%). The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield approached 4.8%, and Japan’s 10-year yield exceeded 3%.

U.S. index futures and European stock markets showed signs of weakness amid risk-averse trading. However, no separate final figures are provided because real-time values remained volatile as of 19:50.

Dell rose sharply in after-hours trading following strong AI server results, leaving a favorable signal for semiconductor and AI-related stocks. Higher oil prices and interest rates, however, weighed on technology stocks. Final premarket figures for individual large-cap stocks had not been confirmed as of the reference time and are therefore omitted.

1. The U.S.-Iran conflict, conditions in the Strait of Hormuz, and whether oil prices stabilize.

2. Whether the U.S. 10-year Treasury yield stabilizes above 4.8%.

3. The reaction of U.S. semiconductor and AI stocks following Dell’s results, and the direction of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.

4. Whether foreign investors and institutions continue selling semiconductor stocks, and whether support from treasury-share purchases continues.

5. Tonight’s U.S. August ADP private-employment data and Federal Reserve Beige Book, followed by the U.S. August employment report on September 4.

• Total KOSPI trading value: The final market reports did not provide a total. Only combined net selling of approximately 4 trillion won and 3,500 hundred-million won was confirmed.

• KOSPI intraday low and KOSDAQ high and low: Not stated in the final market reports.

• Final closing level of KOSPI200 overnight futures and European index closing levels: Final values were unavailable because trading was still underway at 19:50.

KOSPI closes down in the 4% range (아시아경제): https://view.asiae.co.kr/article/2026090215514382923

Foreign investors and institutions sell KRW 4 trillion, closing market report (비즈니스코리아): https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=276064

Foreign investors and institutions sell KRW 4 trillion, closing market report (머니투데이): https://www.mt.co.kr/stock/2026/09/02/2026090215270933490

Closing market report on the dual burden of oil prices and interest rates (매일일보): https://www.m-i.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1409226

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fall 4% (한국경제): https://www.hankyung.com/article/2026090299586

Closing check on the 4% decline (인포스탁데일리·인베스팅): https://kr.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/article-2081738

Analysis of support from treasury-share purchases and analyst comments (머니투데이): https://www.mt.co.kr/stock/2026/09/02/2026090210461191607

Han Ji-young’s 키움증권 assessment and overnight-futures weakness (머니투데이): https://www.mt.co.kr/stock/2026/09/02/2026090208591584240

Today’s investment strategy and staggered-purchase commentary (이투데이): https://www.etoday.co.kr/news/view/2620759

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix close down 4%, exchange rate (블록미디어): https://www.blockmedia.co.kr/archives/1135213

Dell results drive sharp after-hours rise (인베스팅): https://www.investing.com/news/earnings/dell-stock-soars-10-after-hours-on-quarterly-results-raised-full-year-guidance-4884587