South Korea's KOSPI falls, KOSDAQ jumps on biotech and battery stocks

The KOSPI opened higher but soon reversed, ending the session down 1.24% at 8,290.19 points. Foreign investors continued heavy net selling, offloading about 1.77 trillion won, while domestic investors bought modestly. Most sectors posted losses, with finance falling the most at ‑4.98% and metals, retail, and pharmaceuticals also down.

In contrast, the KOSDAQ surged 7.4% to 914.56 points, spurred by strong buying in biotech and second‑battery firms. Leading gains came from biotech company Altiogen (+9.17%) and battery makers EcoPro (+22.85%) and EcoPro BM (+16.31%). The rapid rise triggered a temporary trading sidecar to pause program‑trade orders. Overall, the rally was concentrated in the top‑30 KOSDAQ stocks, while semiconductor‑related shares declined.