KOSPI Hits Another Record High, Surpasses 4,800 for the First Time Ever [FN Morning Market Brief]

[Financial News] The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended its winning streak to an 11th consecutive trading day, surpassing the 4,800-point mark for the first time in its history.
As of 10:50 a.m. on the 16th, the KOSPI was trading at 4,832.80, up 35.25 points (0.73%) from the previous session’s close. The index opened at 4,820.66, up 0.48% from the previous day, and went on to climb as high as 4,848.73 during intraday trading as gains widened.
With this move, the KOSPI has broken through the 4,800 level just two trading days after crossing the 4,700 mark on the 14th.
By sector, insurance (3.49%), electrical and electronics (2.03%), machinery and equipment (1.66%), and manufacturing (1.16%) advanced, while pharmaceuticals (-1.96%), medical precision instruments (-0.82%), and paper and lumber (-0.64%) declined.
Among large-cap stocks by market capitalization, Samsung Electronics (3.82%), SK hynix Inc. (0.80%), and LG Energy Solution Ltd. (0.13%) were on the rise. In contrast, Samsung Biologics (-2.54%), Hyundai Motor Company (-0.12%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (-0.95%) were down.
Overnight, the U.S. stock market saw a key source of volatility ease as geopolitical risks stemming from Iran entered a phase of stabilization. Against this backdrop, semiconductor stocks finished broadly higher, buoyed by strong earnings from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) and others.
Sunghoon Lee, a researcher at KIWOOM Securities Co., Ltd., said, “In the domestic market today, abundant cash waiting on the sidelines and the easing of geopolitical uncertainties are acting as drivers for gains. As concentration in a few names eases, we expect a market led by individual stocks, with funds rotating and dispersing across sectors.”
At the same time, the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) index was trading at 945.72, down 5.44 points (-0.58%) from the previous session.
On the KOSDAQ market, retail investors and institutions were net buyers of 72.5 billion won and 25.1 billion won, respectively. Foreign investors were net sellers, showing a selling advantage of 84.8 billion won.

nodelay@fnnews.com Ji-yeon Park Reporter