[Digital Today reporter Sangyeop Oh] South Korean stocks opened sharply lower as international oil prices surged on uncertainty over the war in the Middle East.
The KOSPI was trading at 5,197.22 at 9:11 a.m. on March 30, down 241.65 points, or 4.44 percent, from the previous session. The index opened at 5,181.80, down 257.07 points, or 4.73 percent, from the previous close.
In the market, foreign investors were net sellers of 88.0 billion won and institutions were net sellers of 256.1 billion won. Retail investors were net buyers of 324.7 billion won, appearing to try to limit losses.
Top market-cap stocks were all lower. SK Hynix was down 50,000 won, or 5.42 percent, at 872,000 won, and Samsung Electronics was trading 6,800 won, or 3.78 percent, lower at 172,900 won.
SK Square fell 5.88 percent, Hyundai Motor 5.66 percent, Doosan Enerbility 5.61 percent, Kia 5.46 percent, Hanwha Aerospace 5.47 percent, Samsung Biologics 4.30 percent and LG Energy Solution 2.79 percent.
The KOSDAQ was also down 42.18 points, or 3.70 percent, at 1,099.33.
The won-dollar exchange rate rose 5.30 won, or 0.35 percent, from the previous session to 1,514.30 won.
Sangyeop Oh
yub@d-today.co.kr