#sidecar

KOSDAQ surged 4.99% to 1,161.13 on May 22, triggering a program-trading buying sidecar for the second consecutive session just 33 minutes after the open. The South Korean government's National Participation Growth Fund, channeling capital into advanced-tech KOSDAQ names, drove KRW 593.3 billion in foreign net buying on the day and pushed cumulative foreign inflows to approximately KRW 2.7 trillion over six consecutive sessions this month.

KOSPI 200 futures plunged 5.13% to 1,112.46 at 09:19 KST on May 18, triggering the sell-side sidecar for the second consecutive session. The KOSPI cash index recovered from an intraday low of -4.7% to close at 7,516.04 (+0.31%), as domestic retail buyers absorbed over KRW 2.5 trillion in foreign selling. The USD/KRW rate crossed 1,502, re-breaching the 1,500 level, with foreign investors recording eight straight days of net selling totaling over KRW 4 trillion.