KOSPI Holds Steady Above 2,610

The KOSPI composite traded largely flat on the day, starting out with some 28 points in gains before fading to the close at 2612.34 points (+0.06%).

In terms of specific stocks, Samsung Electronics had a similar session to the broader index. The stock began with a 2.43% increase but settled unchanged at 57,600 won by the day's end. SK Hynix fared worse, ending the day down 1.46%.

Hanwha Group stocks surged significantly following reports of a potential acquisition of Australian shipbuilder Austal.

Some stocks faced declines due to external factors, such as Kia, ending the day down 2.43% due to the impact of dividend expiry. Kia's stock reversed the pattern of many others on the day, starting out at the low of the day at 93,300 before rallying to end at 96,400.

Sector performance also varied, with Machinery & Equipment rising 1.14%, Insurance gaining 1.4%, Pharmaceuticals up 0.76%, and Securities increasing by 0.55%. On the other hand, Metals fell by 0.7%, Chemicals slipped by 0.5%, and Paper & Wood declined by 0.36%.

Overall, the market showed resilience amid selective profit-taking, with the index continuing to hold above 2,610 a good sign for the bulls. With the KOSPI continuing to show outperformance on many other markets YTD, with gains of 8.9%, there could be an element of profit taking in some of the short term trends.