On the 12th, the KOSPI hit a record high during intraday trading again. The KOSDAQ, which was weak early in the session, turned higher as foreign buying flowed in.
As of 11:40 a.m., the KOSPI was up 57.74 points, or 1.26%, from the previous session at 4,644.06. Early in the session, it jumped to as high as 4,652.54, setting a new all-time record high again.
In the main board, individuals and institutions were net buyers of 150 billion won and 170 billion won, respectively, lifting the index. However, more than 60% of institutional funds were inflows from financial investment such as exchange-traded funds (ETF). Foreign investors alone sold about 430 billion won.
Eight of the top 10 stocks by market cap were rising. Samsung Electronics (0.86%) and SK hynix (1.88%), the leading semiconductor names, were strong on gains in New York stocks. Hyundai Motor (1.91%), LG Energy Solution (4.13%), Hanwha Aerospace (0.58%), and Doosan Enerbility (5.23%) were also up.
By contrast, Samsung Biologics (-1.06%) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (-0.82%) were struggling.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ was up 4.48 points, or 0.47%, from the previous session at 952.40. Opening higher at 948.48, the KOSDAQ was pushed down to the 943 level on intraday foreign selling but managed to turn higher during the session.
On the KOSDAQ, foreigners and institutions were net buyers of 28 billion won and 14 billion won, respectively. Individuals alone were in "sell" mode to the tune of about 25 billion won, capping the index's gains.
Top KOSDAQ market-cap names were mixed. ECOPRO BM (5.99%) and EcoPro (7.39%)—secondary battery plays—surged. In contrast, Alteogen (-5.48%), LigaChem Biosciences (-1.49%), and Peptron (-3.39%) were trading below the previous session's close.
In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar rate was at 1,463.10 won per $1, up 3.2 won from the previous session.