Index Driven Higher by Shift to Net Buying by Foreign Investors
Hyundai Motor and Kia Surge Over 10%, Climb to 3rd and 8th in Market Capitalization
The KOSPI index broke through the 4,900 mark, setting a new all-time high and moving one step closer to the 5,000-point milestone. In the latter part of the session, increased buying by foreign investors pushed the index higher.
On the 19th, the KOSPI closed at 4,904.66, up 1.32% from the previous trading day. This marks the highest closing price ever. Around 2:30 p.m. that day, the KOSPI reached 4,917.37, setting a new intraday record. This was in stark contrast to the weak opening at 4,829.40, as the market ended on a strong note.
In the early session, both foreign investors and institutions were net sellers, while individual investors' net buying helped maintain the index. Later, as foreign investors turned to net buying, the index climbed even further. After the market closed, foreign investors had net purchased 470.4 billion won. Individuals and institutions were net sellers, offloading 673 billion won and 32.8 billion won, respectively.
Many sectors saw gains. The transportation equipment and parts sector surged by 7.08%. The entertainment and culture sector also rose by 5.57%. Other sectors posting gains of more than 1% included telecommunications (2.59%), electricity and gas (2.41%), metals (2.21%), transportation and warehousing (1.86%), machinery and equipment (1.44%), and construction (1.42%). In contrast, textiles and apparel (-1.27%), pharmaceuticals (-1.15%), and medical and precision instruments (-1.03%) declined.
Most of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization also rose. Notably, the sharp rebound in automobile stocks led to a reshuffling of the rankings. Hyundai Motor and Kia jumped by 15.7% and 11.9%, respectively, climbing to third and eighth place in market capitalization. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (4.0%), Hanwha Aerospace (2.6%), LG Energy Solution (1.7%), and SK Hynix (1.0%) also posted significant gains. SK Square (-2.4%) and Samsung Biologics (-0.9%) declined.
The KOSDAQ index followed a similar trend. After opening slightly lower, it closed up 1.44% at 968.36, its highest closing price in over four years since January 14, 2022, when it finished at 971.39. During the session, it even reached 969.09.
In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors were also net buyers, purchasing 205.8 billion won. Individuals and institutions were also net buyers, with 109.3 billion won and 46.6 billion won, respectively.
Many sectors rose as well. Machinery and equipment (4.71%), electrical and electronics (3.49%), manufacturing (2.38%), other manufacturing (2.27%), chemicals (1.80%), metals (1.69%), non-metals (1.49%), medical and precision instruments (1.05%), and IT services (1.00%) all gained more than 1%. General services (-1.45%), distribution (-1.30%), and transportation and warehousing (-0.95%) declined.
Among the top 10 KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization, Ecopro BM (5.3%), Rainbow Robotics (4.4%), and Peptron (4.2%) posted notable gains. Ecopro (2.2%), Leeno Industrial (2.0%), and LIG ChemBio (0.5%) also rose. In contrast, Alteogen (-4.1%), HLB (-2.0%), and Samchundang Pharm (-0.9%) declined.
At around 2:39 p.m. on the 19th, the KOSPI index, which surpassed the 4,900 mark, was displayed on the status board of the dealing room at the Shinhan Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. Shinhan Bank
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