Foreign investors have made a surprise return to the benchmark KOSPI in January on the weakening dollar and growing hopes for an end to the cycle of global monetary tightening, data showed Wednesday. According to the Korea Exchange, foreign investors purchased Korean shares worth 1.82 trillion won ($1.46 billion) between Jan. 2 and Jan. 10. They maintained their position of selling local stocks up until last month, but shifted their stance by expanding the net-buying of major large-cap stocks in semiconductors, finance and the internet.
South Korean stocks ended the year 2022 sharply down, marking the first annual loss in four years on global monetary tightening and economic recession woes. On Thursday, the last trading session of this year, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,236.40 points, down 1.93 percent from a day earlier.