Overview
- The index, which jumped to a record 6,750.27 Thursday morning, reversed to close down 1.38 percent at 6,598.87 and ended a three-day run of gains.
- Samsung's record first-quarter profit and stronger sales at Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft kept AI hopes high, helping push Seoul to fresh highs at the open.
- Foreign investors and institutions flipped to sellers during the pullback, while individual investors bought a net 720 billion won to take the other side, according to intraday data.
- Analysts warned of overheating as Samsung and SK hynix account for more than 40 percent of the KOSPI and margin loans stand near 35 trillion won.
- Oil prices jumped after new tension over Iran, the won hovered near 1,486 per dollar, and the U.S. kept rates unchanged, adding pressure that could fuel more sharp moves.