KOSPI back above 3600 amid U.S.-China trade tensions…Sempio hits daily upper limit

Samsung Electronics·SK Hynix rebound in one day

Won–dollar rate starts lower

The KOSPI index rose back above the 3600 level despite U.S.-China trade tensions.

As of 9:08 a.m. on the 15th, the KOSPI index was trading at 3604.81, up 43 points (1.21%) from the previous day. The index opened up 0.53% and has been gradually widening its gains.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on social media (SNS) that "China's halt of imports of U.S. soybeans is an obvious hostile act" and that he is "considering measures to sever business relations with China related to cooking oil and other traded items," escalating tensions in just one day.

At this time, individual investors are net buyers of 109.6 billion won in the securities market. Foreigners and institutions are net sellers by 91.7 billion won and 17.5 billion won, respectively.

Top market-cap KOSPI stocks are mixed. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which closed lower the previous day, are up 1.97% and 0.73%, respectively. Doosan Enerbility, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Naver are also rising. Samsung Biologics is surging in the 6% range on earnings expectations. Hanwha Ocean, which plunged after the Chinese government's sanctions announcement the previous day, is up in the 1% range.

Meanwhile, LG Energy Solution, Hyundai Motor, and Kia are declining.

Following President Trump's remark about considering severing cooking oil trade with China, Sempio jumped to the daily upper limit during trading. Sempio Foods is also soaring in the 23% range.

The KOSDAQ index also turned to gains in one day. At this time, the KOSDAQ index is at 855.76, up 0.92% from the previous day. In the KOSDAQ market, individual and institutional investors are net buyers of 73.4 billion won and 12.2 billion won, respectively. Foreigners are net sellers of 80.1 billion won.

Top market-cap KOSDAQ stocks are showing mixed movements. Alteogen, Rainbow Robotics, Pharma Research, and LIGACEM Bio are rising, while EcoPro BM, EcoPro, and Peptron are falling.

The won–dollar exchange rate opened lower. In the Seoul foreign exchange market on the day, the won–dollar exchange rate started trading at 1429.1 won, down 1.9 won from the previous day.

No Jeong-dong, Hankyung.com reporter dong2@hankyung.com