KOSPI Starts Higher at Record High, Sets New All-Time Peak

KOSPI Rises to 4,652.54
KOSDAQ Holds Firm in Positive Territory
Individuals Lead Net Buying as Foreigners and Institutions Sell

On January 12, the KOSPI started the day higher, surpassing the 4,650 mark during trading and setting a new all-time high.

On this day, the KOSPI opened regular trading at 4,639.89, up 1.17% from the previous session. Immediately after the market opened, it climbed as high as 4,652.54, marking a record high.

Foreign investors and institutions recorded net sales of 490.6 billion won and 34.8 billion won, respectively, while individual investors made net purchases of 517.1 billion won, driving the index upward.

Almost all sectors were on the rise. The construction sector posted the largest gain with an increase of 4.94%. Other sectors that rose by more than 2% included transportation and storage (3.92%), machinery and equipment (2.81%), electricity and gas (2.35%), securities (2.34%), and metals (2.33%). Only a few sectors, such as textiles and apparel (-0.56%), telecommunications (-0.48%), and retail (-0.42%), declined.

Most of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization also saw gains. Doosan Enerbility led the way with a 4.2% increase. This was followed by LG Energy Solution (2.7%), Hyundai Motor (2.6%), Samsung Biologics (1.2%), Samsung Electronics (0.4%), SK Hynix (0.4%), and SK Square (0.4%). HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-0.6%), Hanwha Aerospace (-0.4%), and Kia (-0.4%) showed a pause in their upward momentum.

The KOSDAQ opened at 948.48, up 0.06% during the same period. Although it briefly turned downward in early trading, it quickly rebounded and remained above the 950 mark.

Here too, individual investors were net buyers, purchasing 57.2 billion won. Foreign investors and institutions recorded net sales of 32.9 billion won and 15 billion won, respectively.

Most sectors in the KOSDAQ market were also on the rise. The non-metal sector posted the most significant gain, up 4.01%. Other sectors that rose by more than 1% included finance (2.68%), transportation equipment and parts (2.25%), electrical and electronics (2.00%), metals (1.96%), medical and precision instruments (1.27%), and manufacturing (1.00%). Only a few sectors, such as general services (-1.33%), declined.

Among the top 10 KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization, HLB (5.7%) and Ecopro (5.5%) posted notable gains. They were followed by Ecopro BM (3.3%), Samchundang Pharm (3.0%), and ABL Bio (0.2%). In contrast, Alteogen (-3.7%), Peptron (-2.6%), and LIG Chem Bio (-0.5%) declined.