KOSPI Closes Above 4,220 as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix Surge, Up 2.20%

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed above 4,220, buoyed by sharp gains in major semiconductor, defense, and nuclear energy stocks. Strong buying from foreign and individual investors drove the index higher.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the KOSPI finished trading at 4,220.56, up 90.88 points (2.20%) from the previous session. The index opened at 4,146.48, up 0.41%, and surged just before the close to finish at its session high.
In the main stock market, individuals and foreign investors bought 186.9 billion won and 423.3 billion won worth of shares, respectively, while institutions sold 535.6 billion won.
By sector, metals (up 3.46%), electrical/electronics (up 3.34%), and IT services (up 3.09%) performed strongly, while non-metals (down 3.89%), electricity/gas (down 2.61%), and textiles/apparel (down 2.28%) lagged.
Among large-cap stocks, Hanwha Aerospace (up 8.85%), SK Hynix (up 6.68%), and Naver Corporation (up 4.32%) posted sharp gains. In contrast, Samsung Life Insurance (down 3.08%), KEPCO (down 2.58%), and LG Energy Solution (down 1.17%) declined.
On the same day, the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) closed at 932.59, up 12.92 points (1.40%) from the previous session. Individuals and foreign investors made net purchases of 220.6 billion won and 32 billion won, respectively, while institutions recorded a net sale of 166.5 billion won.
Lim Jeong-eun, a researcher at KB Securities Co., Ltd., explained, "Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. continued its semiconductor rally, reaching a new all-time high by touching 120,000 won during the session after a 5% surge last Friday, while SK Hynix rebounded to 600,000 won with a 6% jump. Notably, as of today, the KRX has excluded large-cap stocks ranked within the top 100 by market capitalization on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ from being designated as investment warning issues, resulting in the removal of SK Hynix, Hanwha Aerospace, and SK Square Co., Ltd. from the list."


koreanbae@fnnews.com Bae Han-geul Reporter