Mixed Trends Among Top Market Caps, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Rise
Hanmi Semiconductor Hits New High, Ranks 21st in Market Cap
'Apple Effect' LG Innotek and BH Approaching 10% Gains
The KOSPI index closed slightly higher, supported by foreign buying.
On the 12th, the KOSPI index closed at 2,728.17, up 22.85 points (0.84%) from the previous trading day. The KOSPI index started at 2,709.65, up 4.33 points from the previous day, and hovered around the 2,710 level until about an hour before the market closed. Late in the session, buying momentum pushed the index to a high of 2,730.30, finishing with a strong gain close to 1%.
By investor type, foreigners bought 234.3 billion KRW, and institutions purchased 10 billion KRW. In contrast, individuals sold a net 243 billion KRW.
By sector, machinery showed a strong surge, rising 4.66%. Following were food and beverages (2.37%), chemicals (1.36%), electrical and electronics (1.05%), and finance (1.01%), all with gains exceeding 1%. On the other hand, transportation and warehousing (-1.20%), steel and metals (-0.87%), pharmaceuticals (-0.86%), and medical precision (-0.85%) closed lower.
The top 10 market capitalization stocks showed mixed performance. Samsung Electronics (1.73%) and SK Hynix (1.18%) closed higher. SK Hynix hit a new high of 215,000 KRW. Conversely, LG Energy Solution (-1.40%), Celltrion (-2.60%), and POSCO Holdings (-0.79%) were weaker. Hanmi Semiconductor (9.17%) closed at 173,900 KRW, setting another new high and overtaking LG Electronics (16.46 trillion KRW) to become 21st in market capitalization on the KOSPI market with 16.87 trillion KRW. Following Apple’s record high in the U.S. stock market the previous day, related stocks also showed strength. Suppliers LG Innotek (9.37%) and BH (7.23%) surged more than 5%. The cosmetics sector also performed well, with Amorepacific (7.64%), Cosmax (9.39%), Korea Cosmetics Manufacturing (11.25%), Tony Moly (6.64%), and Jayjun Cosmetic (7.09%) all posting gains.
Lee Jaewon, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., said, "The KOSPI rose due to sectoral rotation, including a rebound in the Apple value chain and strength in the cosmetics sector," adding, "Samsung Electronics continues to benefit from price attractiveness and expectations of earnings improvement due to industry recovery."
The KOSDAQ index closed at 870.67, up 2.31 points (0.27%).
By investor type, foreigners and institutions bought net 31.3 billion KRW and 3 billion KRW, respectively, while individuals sold 17.2 billion KRW.
Among 855 stocks, prices rose, while 682 stocks declined, and 113 stocks remained unchanged. Among the top market cap stocks, Classys, categorized in the cosmetics sector, recorded a double-digit gain of 11.97%. HLB (3.59%), Silicon투 (7.25%), and Samchundang Pharmaceutical (4.29%) also posted gains exceeding 3%. Listed venture capital (VC) and private equity fund (PEF) management firms showed positive trends. With Rebellion’s initial public offering (IPO) being actively pursued, its investor SV Investment rose 11.89%, and Q Capital, selected as the preferred negotiator for Chorokbaem Media, increased 12.58%.
The won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,376.2 KRW, down 2.2 KRW from the previous trading day.
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