Kospi flat as investors take stock of current valuations

Closing Kospi is displayed on the screen of the dealing room of Hana Bank in Jung District, central Seoul, Friday. [YONHAP]

Stocks closed nearly flat on Friday amid growing valuation woes in the financial markets. The won fell against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi rose 0.21 points, or 0.01 percent, to close at 2,396.69. Trading volume was moderate at about 872 million shares worth some 11.9 trillion won ($10 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 456 to 377.

Foreigners sold a net 164 billion won, while retail investors purchased a net 451 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 322 billion won.

The Kospi's lackluster performance was largely attributed to the tech retreat and unimproved jobless benefits data from last week.

"Ample liquidity in the financial markets had been bolstering steep gains, which largely rose on future hopes, rather than value," said Kiwoom Securities' Seo Sang-young.

"The probable shift in recent investor sentiment is directing more attention to the current corporate value," he added.

Investor sentiment also weakened on lingering U.S.-China political tensions and a slower-than-expected drop in new Covid-19 cases at home.

Most large caps closed lower in Seoul.

Samsung Electronics lost 0.34 percent to 59,000 won, while chipmaker SK hynix jumped 2.35 percent to 78,400 won.

Internet portal giant Naver shed 0.49 percent to 306,000 won, with its rival Kakao down 1.69 percent to 379,000 won.

Kakao Games, the game developing unit of Kakao, skyrocketed by the daily permissible maximum for the second consecutive day Friday. The gaming company spiked 29.97 percent to close at 81,100 won.

Kakao Games closed at 62,400 won the previous day, sharply up from the IPO price of 24,000 won.

Chemical maker LG Chem declined 1.12 percent to 705,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI fell 0.12 percent to 429,500 won.

Pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics retreated 0.39 percent to 761,000 won, and Celltrion closed flat at 298,500 won.

Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, gained 1.48 percent to 171,500 won, and steelmaker Posco closed flat at 185,500 won.

The secondary Kosdaq added 4.14 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 888.44.

The local currency closed at 1,186.9 won against the dollar, up 2 won from the previous session's close.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed mixed. The yield on three-year bonds added 0.8 basis points to 0.924 percent, and the return on the 10-year bond fell 2.5 basis points to 0.67 percent.

BY CHEA SARAH, YONHAP [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]