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Foreign Investors Extend KOSPI Selling Streak Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty
Finance · Investment Banks/Brokers · yonhap_finance · 2026-09-01
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Foreign investors have offloaded nearly 170 trillion won in KOSPI stocks this year, signaling a shift toward risk-off sentiment as global macro headwinds persist.
What Happened
Foreign Selling Spree: Foreign investors have maintained a record-breaking net selling trend in the KOSPI this year, totaling nearly 170 trillion won. They have recorded net buying in only two of the past eight months, with a consistent sell-off over the last four months.
Shifting Motivations: While initial selling was driven by profit-taking and portfolio rebalancing following a rally in semiconductor stocks, recent outflows are fueled by broader macro concerns. Rising U.S. interest rates, climbing bond yields, and surging oil prices have significantly dampened investor sentiment.
Corporate Support: Amid broad selling by foreign, institutional, and retail investors, 'other corporate' entities have stepped in as a buffer, recording ten consecutive days of net buying. Analysts note that this support, largely driven by share buybacks, is not a long-term catalyst for a market rally.
Market Outlook: Market experts emphasize that a recovery in foreign capital inflows is critical for any meaningful KOSPI rebound. With key economic events like the September FOMC meeting on the horizon, the market is expected to remain in a risk-off mode for the near term.