Foreign Buying Sparks Semiconductor Rally, KOSPI Surges Nearly 2%

On Friday, major semiconductor stocks staged a strong rebound, propelling the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) to rise nearly 2% in a single day. Foreign investors, who had shown strong net selling in November, shifted to net buying on this day.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 17th, the KOSPI closed at 4,089.25, up 77.68 points (1.94%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 4,078.57, a 1.67% increase from the previous session, and continued to climb close to 2%.
In the main stock market, individuals sold 632.1 billion won worth of shares, while foreign investors and institutions recorded net purchases of 571.4 billion won and 31.8 billion won, respectively, driving the index higher.
By sector, electronics and electrical equipment (4.37%), utilities (3.34%), and medical and precision instruments (2.90%) closed higher, while paper and wood (-2.08%), insurance (-1.73%), and transportation and storage (-1.17%) declined.
Among the top market cap stocks, semiconductor giants such as Samsung Electronics (3.5%) and SK hynix (7.86%) posted significant gains. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (2.73%), Hanwha Aerospace (2.51%), and Doosan Enerbility (0.51%) also advanced. In contrast, Hyundai Motor (-0.18%), KB Financial Group (-1.78%), and Celltrion (-3.16%) retreated.
On the 14th (local time), the U.S. stock market initially plunged due to negative news from Kioxia Corporation in Japan, concerns over an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble, and hawkish comments from Fed officials. However, as the session progressed, bargain hunting emerged amid perceptions that the sell-off in AI stocks was excessive, helping the market recover some losses by the close.
The KOSPI rebounded in tandem with the recovery of major semiconductor stocks, which had plunged the previous Friday. Lee Jae-won, a researcher at Shinhan Securities, stated, "Foreign investors, who had been net sellers throughout November, turned to net buyers today. The continued rise in DRAM spot and contract prices fueled sharp gains in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Additionally, the fact that Warren Buffett’s last investment was in Alphabet Inc. helped ease concerns over AI."
The KOSDAQ Index finished at 902.67, up 4.77 points (0.53%) from the previous session. The index opened at 904.15, a 0.7% increase from the prior close.
In the KOSDAQ market, individuals bought 62.5 billion won and institutions purchased 42 billion won, while foreign investors recorded net sales of 49.7 billion won.

[email protected] Park Ji-yeon Reporter