On the 27th, the KOSPI index is fluctuating around the 6,950 level, up 2%, helped by improved investor sentiment in the artificial intelligence (AI) value chain following Nvidia's strong earnings. the Bank of Korea's monetary policy committee raised the base rate again to 3.00% that day, but the shock appears limited as it was largely priced in.
As of 11:36 a.m., the KOSPI index is at 6,949.16, up 140.95 points (2.07%) from the previous day. In the main board, foreigners and institutions are net buyers of 526.4 billion won and 530.3 billion won, respectively, driving the index higher. In contrast, individuals are net sellers of 1.7266 trillion won.
The KOSDAQ index is also at 834.46, up 7.59 points (0.92%) from the previous day. On the KOSDAQ market, individuals are net buyers of 12.9 billion won, while foreigners and institutions are showing net selling of 4.7 billion won and 10.7 billion won, respectively.
The U.S. July personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index slightly beat expectations the day before, and U.S. long-term Government Bonds yields rebounded, but the growing view of a rate hold at the September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has somewhat eased the impact on stocks.
Nvidia, which drew the market's attention, jumped more than 4% in after-hours trading, sharply lifting investor sentiment toward domestic semiconductor stocks. Nvidia's gross profit margin (GPM) outlook slightly missed expectations, but it sharply raised its 2028 sales growth guideline to 70% from 45%, drawing assessments that it proved the durability of long-term AI demand.
Kang Jin-hyeok, senior researcher at Shinhan Investment & Securities, said, "As Nvidia confirmed the prolongation of solid AI demand, the KOSPI is approaching 7,000 again, led by blue-chip semiconductor stocks such as Samsung Electronics(005930) and SK hynix(000660)," and added, "Strength in power equipment and wire stocks following former President Trump's remarks on import sanctions on foreign power equipment targeting China, and a flow of dispersed funds into secondary battery stocks on ESS momentum are also continuing."
That morning, the Bank of Korea (BOK) Monetary Policy Board carried out a consecutive hike, raising the base rate by 0.25 percentage point to 3.00% from 2.75%. The hike reflects price pressures and solid, semiconductor-led growth. Immediately after the announcement, the KOSPI index pared gains and the KOSDAQ index briefly dipped into negative territory, causing minor swings, but both indexes returned to an uptrend.
Among top stocks by market cap, the leading semiconductor names Samsung Electronics (2.49%) and SK hynix (3.55%) are extending gains. LG에너지솔루션(5.13%), SK Square (1.89%), and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (3.38%) are also strong. In contrast, Hyundai Motor(005380) (-1.84%), Samsung Biologics (-0.31%), and Samsung C&T (-1.29%) are declining.