The KOSPI index has broken through the 4,700 level as well. Since the new year began, it has smashed through 4,300, 4,400, 4,500, and 4,600 points in just two weeks to reach a new high. As the "stronghold" semiconductor stocks that have led the recent market rally rose, nuclear power and power stocks also gained.
On the 14th, the KOSPI index closed at 4,723.1, up 30.46 points (0.65%) from the previous transaction day. Starting the day at 4,685.11, the KOSPI index repeatedly rose and fell as it gave up the 4,670 level amid foreign selling during the session, but, supported by buying from individuals and institutions, it climbed another 23 points at the 4,700 level to finish higher.
In the KOSPI market, institutions were net buyers of 602 billion won. Among exchange-traded fund (ETF) funds, brokerages bought a net 617.8 billion won, and the national pension funds were net buyers of 14.9 billion won. Individuals started the session as net buyers but turned to net sellers in the afternoon, offloading a net 432.4 billion won. Foreign investors were net sellers for the fifth straight transaction day, selling a net 386.9 billion won.
Semiconductor and power stocks drove the KOSPI higher on the day. Investment money flowed back into Samsung Electronics and SK hynix (0.54%), Samsung Electronics preferred (0.68%), SK Square (2.11%), and HANMI Semiconductor (2.66%). Samsung Electronics closed higher for the first time in two transaction days, and SK hynix for the first time in one transaction day. Doosan Enerbility (2.99%), HD Hyundai Electric (4.06%), and LS ELECTRIC (8.56%) also surged.
Lim Jeong-eun, an analyst at KB Securities, said, "U.S. President Donald Trump noted he would come up with measures to prevent big tech companies from passing on the massive power expense arising from building data centers to residents," adding, "As a result, the outlook for rising power demand domestically came into focus, and power stocks were strong."
By contrast, Hyundai Motor Group stocks and shipbuilding and defense stocks, which led the index higher the previous transaction day, lost steam. Hyundai Mobis (0.22%), Hyundai Rotem (3.88%), and Hyundai AutoEver (1.7%)—all Hyundai Motor Group stocks—were weak, and shipbuilding and defense names also closed lower, including HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (7.57%), Hanwha Ocean (5.27%), Hanwha Aerospace (1.01%), HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (4.65%), Samsung Heavy Industries (2.07%), and Korea Aerospace Industries (1.84%).
Meanwhile, the KOSDAQ index finished at 942.18, down 6.8 points (0.72%) from the previous day's level. Starting at 951.03, the KOSDAQ index widened its losses during the session on selling by foreign investors and institutions.
In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors and institutions were net sellers, with 274.5 billion won and 157.2 billion won in "sell" orders, respectively. Individuals alone were net buyers of 428.1 billion won, taking in the supply.
Eight of the top 10 KOSDAQ stocks by market cap closed lower. Peptron saw the steepest drop, and the board also lit up blue for Sam Chun Dang Pharm (6.68%), LigaChem Biosciences (3.84%), ECOPRO BM (3.73%), EcoPro (3.19%), Kolon TissueGene (2.45%), Alteogen (2.2%), and ABL Bio (1.54%).
On the day, the won-dollar exchange rate rose 3.8 won to end weekly trading at 1,477.5 won, climbing for 10 straight transaction days. It was the highest in 13 transaction days since Dec. 23 last year (1,483.6 won).