The KOSPI index rewrote its intraday record high on the 4th, topping the 5,330 level. The index opened slightly lower, but individual buying has flowed in, widening the gains.
As of 10:47 a.m., the KOSPI index was trading at 5,330.63 points, up 42.55 points (0.8%) from the previous session. The index opened slightly lower at 5,260.71 on the back of the U.S. market's lower close early in the session, but quickly reclaimed the 5,300 level on intraday individual buying and has continued to rise.
In the KOSPI market, individuals and institutions are leading the index higher. Individuals are net buying 161.0 billion won, while institutions are net buying 61.5 billion won in exchange-traded fund (ETF) funds, 96.7 billion won by investment trusts, and 129.5 billion won by the national pension fund. Foreign investors alone have turned sellers to the tune of 597.8 billion won.
Nuclear power shares are strong on news of strengthened Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation. Earlier, the U.S. State Department said Minister Cho Hyun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the direction of development of the Korea-U.S. alliance in a meeting on the 3rd (local time). In particular, expansion of nuclear cooperation was discussed at the meeting. Doosan Enerbility is jumping 4%, while KEPID (24%), KEPCO E&C (12.49%), and Korea Electric Power Corporation (5.71%) are also strong.
At the same time, the KOSDAQ index was trading at 1,152.5 points, up 8.17 points (0.71%) from the previous session. After opening slightly lower at 1,139.02, the KOSDAQ index turned higher on intraday foreign buying. It is currently being driven higher as individual ETF funds have turned net buyers of 116.0 billion won.
EcoPro and EcoPro BM, which had surged early in the session, pared gains to 3% and 1%, respectively. While Sam Chun Dang Pharm is jumping 9%, Alteogen (1.12%), ABL Bio (2.73%), and Kolon TissueGene (4.86%) are edging lower.