On the 23rd, the domestic stock market showed a clear divide between the index and individual stocks. The KOSPI closed higher, but a significant number of large-cap stocks declined, and while the KOSDAQ pared its losses from intraday lows, it failed to escape negative territory. With Wall Street also ending weak, attention is turning to the direction of the domestic market in the new week.

The key point of the day's trading was the temperature gap between the index and individual stocks. The KOSPI finished the regular session at 5,550.30, up 16.53 points (0.30%) from the previous trading day, but six of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization fell. Among the KOSDAQ's top 10 stocks, only HLB rose.

The KOSPI opened at 5,403.17, dropped to as low as 5,305.98 during the session, and closed at its daily high. It finished 244.32 points above its intraday low, demonstrating intraday resilience, but large-cap stocks broadly did not move in the same direction.

■ Semiconductors and Biotech Show Mixed Performance by Stock

The paths of the leading semiconductor stocks, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, diverged. Samsung Electronics closed down 1,000 won (0.47%) at 2,135,000 won, and Samsung Electronics preferred shares fell 900 won (0.54%) to 166,200 won. In contrast, SK Hynix rose 40,000 won (3.27%) to 1,263,000 won, and SK Square also finished 13,000 won (1.73%) higher at 764,000 won.

Biotech stocks also showed wide disparities. Samsung Biologics jumped 99,000 won (7.27%) to 1,460,000 won, posting one of the most notable gains among top KOSPI stocks. On the KOSDAQ, HLB closed up 300 won (0.73%) at 41,600 won, holding near flat with a slight gain. Meanwhile, Alteogen fell 9,000 won (3.90%) to 222,000 won, and Samchundang Pharm ended down 2,500 won (1.25%) at 198,000 won.

■ Secondary Batteries and KOSDAQ Semiconductors Remain Weak

Weakness continued across major secondary battery stocks in both markets. LG Energy Solution fell 8,500 won (2.18%) to 381,500 won, EcoPro dropped 4,800 won (6.22%) to 72,400 won, and EcoPro BM declined 5,400 won (5.50%) to 92,800 won.

KOSDAQ semiconductor-related stocks were also sluggish. Jusung Engineering closed down 7,500 won (4.02%) at 179,200 won, and Eotech fell 13,500 won (3.29%) to 396,500 won. Rino Industrial dropped 2,900 won (4.52%) to 61,300 won, Wonik IPS recorded a decline of 2,700 won (2.80%) to 93,800 won, and Rainbow Robotics also closed down 16,000 won (4.38%) at 349,000 won.

The KOSDAQ index finished at 751.69, down 12.41 points (1.62%) from the previous trading day. It opened at 748.32 and moved between 732.87 and 753.02 during the session, recovering 18.82 points from its low but falling short of the previous day's close.

Declines were also confirmed in major KOSPI stocks. Samsung Electro-Mechanics fell 34,000 won (2.97%) to 1,111,000 won, and Hyundai Motor finished down 8,500 won (2.82%) at 293,000 won. KB Financial Group dropped 5,200 won (3.29%) to 153,000 won, while Samsung Life Insurance rose 1,500 won (0.62%) to 243,000 won.

■ Middle East Tension Sends All Three Major Wall Street Indexes Lower

In the U.S. market, which opened after the domestic regular session, the Middle East situation weighed on sentiment. On the 23rd (local time), as military tensions between the United States and Iran escalated and international oil prices surged, all three major Wall Street indexes declined. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 652.82 points (1.23%) at 52,215.16. The S&P 500 fell 39.75 points (0.52%) to 7,623.68, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 53.52 points (0.21%) to 25,955.34.

Although the selling of artificial intelligence (AI)-related technology stocks, which had led the previous day's weakness, somewhat subsided, concerns that military conflict in the Middle East could intensify spread to other sectors. The fact that the Dow fell more than the Nasdaq also marked a shift from the previous day's pattern.

■ Key Points for the New Week

In the new week, the focus in the domestic market will be on whether the KOSPI attempts a further recovery from the 5,550 level and whether the KOSDAQ defends the 750 level and rebounds. Attention is also on whether SK Hynix and Samsung Biologics can sustain their strength, along with the movements of Samsung Electronics and major secondary battery stocks. With the U.S. market weakness and rising international oil prices over the weekend, how the domestic market absorbs these factors will need to be reassessed by stock.

[This article is provided for informational purposes as an investment reference and does not recommend the purchase or sale of any specific stock. Conditions may vary depending on market circumstances. Investment decisions and the resulting responsibility rest with the investor.]