KOSPI opens above 5,400, sets fresh all-time high

The KOSPI opened on the 12th after breaking above the 5,400 level. It is the first time on record the index has risen above 5,400.

According to the Korea Exchange, as of 9:15 a.m. on the 12th, the KOSPI was trading at 5,413.83, up 59.34 points (1.11%) from the previous session. The prior intraday record high was 5,376.92 set on the 4th, meaning the benchmark has notched a new high in just six trading sessions.

In the main board market, retail investors were net buyers by 95.6 billion won. Foreign investors and institutions were net buyers by 76.2 billion won and 25.2 billion won, respectively.

Market bellwethers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix were both up more than 2%. Samsung Electronics in particular rose as high as 174,000 won intraday, again marking the “170,000-won Samsung.” It is an all-time high.

The move is seen as reflecting improved sentiment across the semiconductor sector overnight in the U.S., which also buoyed Korea’s large-cap chipmakers. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, made up of artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related stocks, gained 2.28%.

Hyundai Motor was down more than 1%. SK Square was up more than 4%.

The KOSDAQ was modestly higher. The index was trading at 1,116.01, up 1.14 points (0.1%).

Retail investors were net buyers by 102.1 billion won. Foreign investors and institutions were net sellers by 73.2 billion won and 13.2 billion won, respectively.

On the KOSDAQ, EcoPro (0.52%), EcoPro BM (1%), Rainbow Robotics (1.34%), Kolon TissueGene (1.82%) and Wonik IPS (3.79%) were among the gainers. In contrast, Alteogen and Boronoi were down more than 1%.

Shin Min-kyung, Hankyung.com reporter radio@hankyung.com