KOSPI Tops 5,900 Intraday for the First Time... KOSDAQ Also Starts Higher

KOSPI Opens at 5,903.11 on the 23rd
"Positive Changes Reinforcing KOSPI's Momentum Continue"

The KOSPI has surpassed the 5,900 level intraday for the first time in its history. The KOSDAQ also opened with gains of more than 1%.

As of 9:23 a.m. on the 23rd, the KOSPI index was trading at 5,881.60, up 1.26% from the previous trading day. The KOSPI opened at 5,903.11, up 94.58 points (1.63%) from the previous close, crossing the 5,900 level intraday for the first time. At one point during the session, it climbed as high as 5,931.86. On this day, individual investors recorded a net purchase of 582.6 billion won, institutions a net purchase of 22.4 billion won, while foreign investors posted a net sale of 661.2 billion won.

On the 23rd, the KOSPI index rose 94.58 points from the previous trading day, surpassing the 5,900 mark for the first time in history, and the domestic market status was displayed on the electronic board at the Hana Bank dealing room in Jung-gu, Seoul. The won-dollar exchange rate opened at 1,443 won, down 3.6 won from the previous trading day. Feb. 23, 2026 Kang Jinhyung

By sector, insurance (3.81%), construction (2.87%), electrical and electronics (1.97%), and textiles and apparel (1.68%) are showing gains. Securities (-2.47%) and telecommunications (-1.57%) are weak.

Most of the large-cap stocks by market capitalization are strong. Hyundai Motor is up 2.7%, Samsung Electronics 2.6%, SK Hynix 1.7%, SK Square 0.8%, Kia 0.7%, Samsung Biologics 0.2%, and Doosan Enerbility 0.2%. In contrast, Hanwha Aerospace (-1.8%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-1.8%), and LG Energy Solution (-1.0%) have declined.

The KOSDAQ index, at the same time, is trading at 1,158.89, up 4.89 points (0.42%) from the previous trading day. Individual investors bought 123.1 billion won. Foreign investors sold 70.4 billion won, and institutions sold 35.5 billion won.

Among the top KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization, EcoPro (2.2%), Samchundang Pharm (1.8%), Leeno Industrial (0.7%), Legochem Biosciences (0.7%), Alteogen (0.5%), EcoPro BM (0.2%), and Rainbow Robotics (0.1%) rose. Caregen (-5.4%), ABL Bio (-0.6%), and HLB (-0.5%) declined.

There is an interpretation that the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful has helped reduce uncertainty in the stock market. Lee Kyungmin, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said, "In the short term, new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump could dampen investor sentiment, but the weakening of negotiation leverage and the strengthening of checks on the administration are expected to gain traction," adding, "Ahead of the midterm elections in November, it will be difficult to once again escalate trade conflicts with the entire world, and although President Trump is declaring a Plan B, the preconditions and limits for imposing tariffs are clear."

The researcher added, "Positive changes that are reinforcing the KOSPI's upward trend are continuing," and said, "Based on stronger policy momentum, earnings expectations, and upward revisions to forecasts, a market driven by policy and earnings is expected to unfold."