Overview
- The KOSPI fell 0.21% to 4,108.62 on Dec. 24, breaking a three-session advance despite overnight gains on Wall Street.
- Korea's FX authorities said an excessively weak won is not desirable and signaled firm stabilization efforts, sending the currency up 33.8 won to 1,449.8 per dollar for its sharpest daily rise in more than three years.
- Foreigners and institutions were net buyers at 520 billion won and 200 billion won, while retail investors sold a net 717.5 billion won.
- Large-cap tech was mixed with Samsung Electronics down 0.36% and SK hynix up 0.68%, autos gained, and shipbuilders retreated after a prior jump linked to reports of a U.S.–Hanwha naval plan.
- Foreign inflows totaled about 1.9 trillion won from Dec. 1–22 after heavy November outflows, with sentiment supported by U.S. AI-related strength, Micron's demand signals, and an 18-month delay to new U.S. chip tariffs.