KOSPI Composite Index Surpasses 7,000 on Semiconductor Tailwinds; Samsung Electronics Up 4.98% [fn Market Close]

[Financial News] The KOSPI Composite Index closed above the 7,000 mark, buoyed by strong semiconductor exports and gains in Samsung Electronics.
According to the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 21st, the KOSPI Composite Index closed at 7,007.72, up 113.49 points, or 1.65%, from the previous trading day. The index fluctuated around the 7,000 mark during the session but finished higher on gains in major semiconductor stocks. KOSDAQ also rose 9.15 points, or 1.11%, to close at 836.27.
The KOSPI Composite Index opened at 6,938.34 and climbed as high as 7,027.58 during the session. Samsung Electronics led the index higher, closing at 274,000 won after gaining 4.98%. SK hynix also finished at 1,868,000 won, up 0.59%.
Kang Jin-hyuk, a senior researcher at Shinhan Investment & Securities, cited easing oil prices and robust semiconductor exports as the reasons behind the KOSPI's rise. He said, "South Korea's exports from Sept. 1 to 20 totaled $71.4 billion, up 78.3% from the same period last year and setting a new all-time high." He added, "Semiconductor exports accounted for $34.1 billion, a 259.4% increase, making up nearly half of total exports."
Strength in overseas technology stocks and expectations for artificial intelligence (AI)-related investment were also analyzed as factors supporting investor sentiment. Kang noted, "Following gains in U.S. semiconductor stocks, interest continued in AI chips, servers and energy infrastructure."
In the stock market, institutional investors led the index by making net purchases worth 1.4924 trillion won. Individual investors and foreign investors were net sellers of 2.9790 trillion won and 160.3 billion won, respectively.



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