On the 8th, the KOSPI index closed slightly higher and set another record high. After surging more than 1% intraday past the 4,620 level, the KOSPI at one point turned lower, but it finished up for a fifth straight session on the back of individual investors' "buy" stance.
That day, the KOSPI index finished at 4,552.37, up 1.31 points (0.03%) from the previous session.
In early trading, the KOSPI climbed to 4,622.32 (1.57%), again setting an intraday record high, then swung lower in the afternoon, repeating gains and losses. It nevertheless ended the session slightly higher, logging a fifth straight record closing high.
Individuals bought 1.2655 trillion won in the main board that day, preventing the index from falling. Institutions and foreigners were net sellers of 1.4 trillion won and 120 billion won, respectively.
The narrowing of intraday gains in the index largely reflected profit-taking in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
Before the regular session opened, Samsung Electronics filed a preliminary disclosure showing consolidated sales of 93 trillion won and operating profit of 20 trillion won for the fourth quarter of last year (Oct.–Dec.). It posted the largest quarterly profit on record. However, because the securities community had expected operating profit of around 19 trillion won, the stock fell 1.56% after the earnings release.
SK hynix rose to as high as 788,000 won early on, marking a 1-year high, then pared gains to close at 756,000 won. It rose 1.89% from the previous day.
Overnight, after U.S. President Donald Trump said next year's defense budget would be increased to $1.5 trillion, shipbuilding and defense stocks gained, including Hanwha Aerospace (7.92%), Hanwha Ocean (7.01%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (4.49%).
Among other large-cap stocks by market capitalization, Samsung Biologics rose more than 6%. Hyundai Motor (-2.85%), LG Energy Solution (-1.21%), and Doosan Enerbility (-0.36%) ended lower.
The KOSDAQ index closed at 944.06, down 3.33 points (0.35%) from the previous session. After opening higher and crossing the 950 level, the KOSDAQ index turned down as foreign selling intensified.
On the KOSDAQ market, foreigners were net sellers of 98.8 billion won, while individuals and institutions bought 71.5 billion won and 31.1 billion won, respectively.
Large-cap KOSDAQ stocks were mixed. HLB (-6.08%), Rainbow Robotics (-4.08%), Sam Chun Dang Pharm (-3.92%), EcoPro (-0.97%), and EcoPro BM (-0.34%) fell, while LigaChem Biosciences (3.07%), Peptron (3.04%), Kolon TissueGene (2.97%), ABL Bio (2.38%), and Alteogen (1.59%) finished higher.
Lee Jae-won, an analyst at Shinhan Investment & Securities, said, "In early trading, major export stocks such as semiconductors, autos, and shipbuilding led the market, continuing index record highs driven by a concentration in large caps," adding, "The KOSDAQ market was relatively neglected and moved sideways amid mixed moves in large caps."