The KOSPI finished the session at 7,981, just shy of the 8,000 mark. It set a new record high on a closing basis. Individuals showed strong buying, overcoming selling by foreigners and institutions to lead the index.
On the 14th, the KOSPI closed at 7,981.41, up 137.40 points (1.75%) from the previous session. Opening at 7,873.91, up 29.90 points (0.38%) from the prior day, the KOSPI surged to the 7,990 level in the morning and afternoon, attempting to break 8,000 several times.
With gains led by semiconductors and secondary batteries, it neared 8,000 but finished the session leaving just 19 points on the table.
The main board was led by individual buying. Individuals went on net purchases of more than 2.8 trillion won, countering selling by foreigners and institutions. Foreigners and institutions posted net sales of more than 2.8 trillion won and 200 billion won, respectively, on the day. Foreigners have been net sellers for six straight sessions.
The previous day, U.S. stocks were buoyed by expectations for growth in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry despite concerns about inflationary pressures from rising international oil prices. As risk appetite for AI Semiconductor and big tech recovered, it pulled the broader market higher. The U.S. producer price index (PPI) for April rose 6.0% year over year due to a surge in energy prices.
Among top KOSPI market-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics ended at 296,000 won, up 4.33% from the previous session. It strengthened despite the risk of a general strike by semiconductor unions.
SK hynix, which had topped 2 million won for the first time in the premarket, finished the transaction at 1.97 million won, down 0.30% from the previous session. SK Square, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Doosan Enerbility, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, and Hyosung Heavy Industries also ended lower.
The KOSDAQ index closed at 1,191.09, up 14.16 points (p) (1.20%) from the prior day. After starting at 1,187.02, it fluctuated intraday but ended the transaction higher late in the session.
In the KOSDAQ market, foreigners also were net sellers of more than 130 billion won. Individuals and institutions were net buyers of more than 90 billion won and 50 billion won, respectively.