KOSPI Enters the 4,700-Point Era... Index Closes at Record High for Ninth Straight Session [fn Closing Market Report]

[Financial News] The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) set another all-time high on the 14th. Having extended its winning streak to nine consecutive trading days since the start of the new year, the KOSPI on this day surpassed the 4,700-point level for the first time.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 4,723.10, up 30.46 points, or 0.65%, from the previous session. The index opened at 4,685.11, down 0.16% from the previous close, but quickly turned higher after the market opened and went on to break through the 4,700-point mark for the first time in history.
In the KOSPI Market, institutional investors led the advance by recording a net purchase of 601.9 billion won. Individual investors and foreigners showed net selling of 432.4 billion won and 386.9 billion won, respectively.
By sector, distribution/retail (2.85%), securities (2.82%), and textiles & apparel (1.80%) were strong, while electric & gas utilities (-3.24%), metals (-2.07%), and transportation equipment & parts (-0.96%) weakened.
Among large-cap stocks by market capitalization, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (1.74%), SK Hynix (0.41%), Samsung Biologics (0.79%), and Hyundai Motor Company (1.35%) gained, whereas LG Energy Solution Ltd. (-1.14%), Hanwha Aerospace (-1.09%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (-4.34%) declined.
Overnight, the U.S. stock market ended lower despite the December Consumer Price Index (CPI) coming in below consensus. Geopolitical tensions stemming from Iran, weakness in financial stocks such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. amid concerns over President Donald Trump’s proposed 10% cap on credit card interest rates, and a drop in Microsoft (MS) after it decided to absorb higher electricity costs all weighed on sentiment.
Lee Jaewon, analyst at Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd., said, "Foreign investors have continued net selling in the KOSPI and KOSDAQ market for five consecutive trading days, and the timing of the start of their selling coincides with the point at which the won–dollar exchange rate rebounded sharply."
The KOSDAQ Index closed at 942.18, down 6.80 points, or 0.72%, from the previous session. The index had opened at 951.03, up 0.22% from the prior close.
In the KOSDAQ market, individual investors were the sole net buyers, with a net purchase of 428.1 billion won. Foreign investors and institutions were net sellers of 274.5 billion won and 157.2 billion won, respectively.

nodelay@fnnews.com Park Ji-yeon Reporter