KOSPI rises to the 6,800 level on strength in large-cap semiconductor stocks; KOSDAQ gains 1% [Morning Market Update]

[Financial News] KOSPI recovered the 6,800 level as it rose more than 4%, driven by a sharp rally in large-cap semiconductor stocks. It was the first time in 15 trading days, based on the closing level.
According to the Korea Exchange, KOSPI was trading at 6,855.43 at 10:12 a.m. on the 13th, up 276.39 points, or 4.20%, from the previous day.
Buying by foreign investors and institutions is driving the index higher. On the Korea Exchange Main Board, foreigners and institutions have net bought 962.7 billion won and 457.7 billion won, respectively, while retail investors have net sold 1.4215 trillion won.
By sector, electricity and electronics rose 5.61%, manufacturing 4.55%, and securities 3.04%, while electricity and gas fell 3.77%, leisure and culture 0.87%, and food, beverages and tobacco 0.45%.
Most large-cap stocks by market capitalization were also higher. Semiconductor-related blue chips such as Samsung Electro-Mechanics (12.06%), SK Square (8.01%), SK hynix (7.05%), and Samsung Electronics (4.11%) surged. In addition, all of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization were rising, including Samsung C&T Corporation (3.50%), Samsung Life Insurance (3.14%), and Hyundai Motor Company (2.93%).
The market strength was led by stocks tied to Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure. In New York stock market trading overnight, CoreWeave and Super Micro Computer, Inc. (Supermicro), both AI data center-related companies, reported strong earnings, easing concerns about the sustainability of AI infrastructure investment. That also drew buying in Korea, led by large semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
In addition, strong earnings from ILJIN Electric Co., Ltd. and expectations for power supply projects in the Honam region and Yongin semiconductor clusters helped lift power equipment stocks. Investor sentiment also spread to domestic optical communication stocks after Lumentum rose on Wall Street following better-than-expected results.
At the same time, KOSDAQ was trading at 867.85, up 8.94 points, or 1.04%, from the previous day. Retail investors net bought 203.4 billion won, while foreigners and institutions net sold 122.6 billion won and 75.7 billion won, respectively.
Meanwhile, stocks designated as administrative issues for falling short of share price or market capitalization requirements were showing sharp volatility. Hantop Inc., which was designated for failing to meet the market capitalization requirement, was trading at 3,365 won at the same time, up 20.93% from the previous session. Earlier in the session, it had jumped to 3,630 won, hitting the daily upper limit. Its market capitalization also rose to about 21.9 billion won, moving back above the 20 billion won threshold required to remain listed on KOSDAQ and exceeding the delisting standard.
CMG Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which was designated as an administrative issue for failing to meet the share price requirement, also jumped 10.67%. By contrast, Not_found fell 21.19%, while SDN (-22.08%), Wooree Enterprise Co., Ltd. (-13.74%), and ESTaid Corp. (-14.54%) also posted double-digit declines.
 
[email protected] Bae Hangeul Reporter