KOSPI gains as foreigners buy both spot and futures… SK Hynix up 6%

The KOSPI is showing strength on the back of simultaneous spot and futures buying by foreign investors. In particular, SK Hynix, which is seeing concentrated foreign buying, surged more than 6% and is on the verge of reclaiming the 600,000-won level.

As of 11:02 a.m. on the 17th, the KOSPI is trading at 4067.43, up 55.86 points (1.39%) from the previous day.

Foreigners are net buying stocks worth 175.5 billion won and KOSPI200 futures worth 131.2 billion won in the KOSPI market, driving up the index. Institutional investors are also buying spot stocks worth 56 billion won. Conversely, individual investors are selling stocks worth 225 billion won.

Top market-cap stocks are generally rising.

Samsung Electronics is up 2.88%, trading at 100,000 won.

SK Hynix is surging 6.43%. It briefly climbed to 599,000 won during the session.

The strength in semiconductor stocks was influenced by reports that Samsung Electronics raised prices of Double Data Rate (DDR)5 32GB products by more than 60% compared with September. On this news, Micron Technology also rose 4.17% in the New York market last weekend.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (2.39%) is also strong.

Meanwhile, LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor are slightly lower, and KB Financial is down 1.85%.

The KOSDAQ is trading at 900.46, up 2.56 points (0.29%). In that market, individuals are buying stocks worth 111.3 billion won, while foreigners and institutions are selling 49.4 billion won and 13.8 billion won worth, respectively.

Top market-cap stocks on the KOSDAQ are also mostly rising.

ABL Bio, which struck a 'jackpot' with a technology out-licensing to Eli Lilly, is up 4.59% and continues to show strength.

Rigachem Bio and Samchundang Pharm are up 1.88% and 2.09%, respectively.

Pharmaresearch is also strong, up 5.53%.

Meanwhile, Alteogen is slightly lower, and HLB is down 2.02%.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar rate is trading at 1458.1 won per dollar, up 5 won (0.34%) from the previous day.

Han Kyung-woo Hankyung.com reporter case@hankyung.com