The **South Korean stock market** concluded a three-session winning streak on Friday, driven by profit-taking as investors remained cautious amidst diplomatic developments surrounding a potential second round of **US-Iran peace talks**. This market pullback also saw the local currency weaken against the US dollar.
The **benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI)** recorded a decline of 34.13 points, or 0.55 percent, closing the trading day at 6,191.92.
This dip follows a robust three-day rally, which saw the **KOSPI index** surpass the significant 6,200-point threshold on Thursday for the first time since the **US-Iran conflict** erupted on February 28.
The **KOSPI’s all-time closing high** remains at 6,307.27, a record achieved on February 26.
Trading volume remained moderate, with 680.2 billion shares changing hands, totaling 22.8 trillion won (approximately $15.4 billion). Despite the overall index fall, gainers slightly outnumbered decliners, with 463 advancing stocks against 389 falling ones.
Investor sentiment analysis revealed **foreign investors** were net sellers, offloading stocks worth 2 trillion won. In contrast, **domestic institutions** accumulated a net 150.3 billion won in shares, while **individual investors** showed confidence by purchasing a net 1.4 trillion won.
The market’s cautious stance was influenced by ongoing **global diplomatic efforts**. US President Donald Trump offered optimistic remarks regarding a fresh round of potential **peace negotiations with Iran** over the weekend, concurrently with Israel and Lebanon announcing a 10-day ceasefire.
“The **KOSPI index** paused for a breather before resuming its ascent toward its all-time high, fueled by growing optimism for a second round of crucial **peace talks between Washington and Tehran**,” commented Kang Jin-hyuk, a seasoned analyst at Shinhan Securities Co., highlighting the impact of **geopolitical developments** on **market trends**.
A majority of **South Korea’s market heavyweights** and **leading listed companies** closed in negative territory on Friday.
Tech sector leaders faced downward pressure; **Samsung Electronics**, the global tech giant, saw its shares fall by 0.69 percent to 216,000 won. Similarly, rival **chipmaker SK hynix** experienced a 2.34 percent drop, settling at 1.1 million won.
The **defense industry shares** were among the day’s significant losers. Industry leader **Hanwha Aerospace** plummeted 6.32 percent to 1.4 million won, and **Korea Aerospace Industries** also dipped 0.79 percent to 188,400 won.
**Energy solutions provider Doosan Enerbility** decreased by 2.08 percent to 108,500 won. In the **biotech sector**, Samsung Bioepis Holdings, a key biosimilar manufacturing unit under the **Samsung Group**, recorded a 2.96 percent decline to 591,000 won.
**Internet giant Naver** saw its stock fall by 0.96 percent to 216,500 won, while leading **gamemaker NC** retreated 1.5 percent to 262,500 won.
However, not all sectors were in decline. **Top carmaker Hyundai Motor** showcased resilience, gaining 0.75 percent to 538,000 won. Leading **shipyard HD Hyundai Heavy Industries** also performed strongly, adding 4.15 percent to reach 514,000 won, indicating pockets of strength within the broader **South Korean economy**.
