On the 21st, the KOSPI index, which had been eyeing the 3,900 level intraday, closed with a slight gain. The rise narrowed as profit-taking emerged during the session, but it extended its record-high streak for the fifth straight trading day.
The KOSPI index finished at 3,823.84, up 9.15 points (0.24%) from the previous session. It once again set an all-time closing high. Early in the session the index climbed to as high as 3,893.06. Although it surged to the brink of the 3,900 level, heavy profit-taking sharply trimmed the gains.
In the main board, individuals were net sellers by 124.1 billion won, while institutions and foreigners were net buyers of 176.5 billion won and 10.7 billion won, respectively.
Samsung Electronics rose to as high as 99,900 won in the morning, stoking hopes of a "100,000 won Samsung," but selling pressure pushed it down 0.61% to close at 97,500 won. SK hynix, which topped 500,000 won in the morning premarket, also fell 1.34% to finish at 479,000 won.
Among other large-cap names, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries jumped nearly 10%, while Hyundai Motor (up 3.43%), Hanwha Aerospace (2.20%), Kia (1.14%), LG Energy Solution (1.04%), and Samsung Biologics (0.79%) also closed higher. Doosan Enerbility edged down 0.37%.
The KOSDAQ index closed at 872.50, down 3.27 points (0.37%) from the previous session. Investor sentiment in the KOSDAQ market also swung sharply intraday. The KOSDAQ index rose to 882.10 early on before turning lower in the afternoon. Foreigners and institutions were net sellers of 114.9 billion won and 72.7 billion won, while individuals were net buyers of 229.6 billion won.
Most top KOSDAQ market-cap stocks flashed red. PharmaResearch fell nearly 4%, and Ecopro (-2.32%), LigaChem Biosciences (-0.66%), and ECOPRO BM (-0.31%) also declined.
By contrast, HLB jumped 11.17% on news that the efficacy of a combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was confirmed in clinical trials. Sam Chun Dang Pharm (up 3.10%), Peptron (0.37%), and Alteogen (0.11%) also rose.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the weekly closing price for the won-dollar rate (as of 3:30 p.m.) was 1,427.8 won, up 8.6 won from the previous session.
Lee Jaewon, a researcher at Shinhan Investment & Securities, said, "The won-dollar rate rose on concerns over tariff negotiations that have not been fully resolved amid easing U.S.-China tensions," adding, "However, the likelihood of a U.S.-Korea trade deal has increased with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings to be held from the 27th to the 1st." Lee added, "Attention should be paid to the outcomes of the summits and third-quarter corporate earnings."