The KOSDAQ is posting relatively strong returns while the KOSPI hovers in slightly negative territory, weighed down by calls to slow the pace of artificial intelligence investment and concerns over a rise in the benchmark interest rate. Money has poured into physical AI names such as Robotis and Samhyun, while battery shares led by EcoPro affiliates are also supporting the index.
The KOSDAQ was trading at 815.02, up 8.19 points or 1.02% from the previous session, as of 2:55 p.m. on the 15th, according to the Korea Exchange. That contrasts with the KOSPI, which was trading at 6,637.77 at the same time, down 46.60 points or 0.70%. The KOSDAQ touched as high as 824.37 during the session.
Physical AI was the sector underpinning the KOSDAQ. Robot shares on the junior market gained broad upward momentum after Goldman Sachs projected that about 6.5 million humanoids would be shipped by 2035. Robotis climbed to eighth place by market capitalization during the session, and Samhyun hit its daily upper limit. Growth prospects for actuators, seen as a core component of physical AI, also came into focus, sending related names such as SPG (12.79%) and Higen RNM (25.69%) sharply higher.
Batteries were another driver. EcoPro, which ranks second by market capitalization on the KOSDAQ, was trading at 84,700 won, up 3.93% from the previous session. EcoPro BM was changing hands at 106,400 won, up 2.41%. On the KOSPI, battery-related shares including LG Energy Solution (4.55%) and L&F (0.61%) were also higher.
The main sources of buying diverged between the two markets. On the KOSPI, retail investors scooped up about 784.5 billion won worth of shares, while foreign and institutional investors sold a net 1.52 trillion won and 906.2 billion won, respectively. That contrasts with the KOSDAQ, where foreign and institutional investors bought a combined net 110 billion won while retail investors sold 116.2 billion won.
