KOSPI Hits Record High, Just 19 Points Away from 8000

KOSPI displayed in the dealing room of Hana Bank's headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul on May 14. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The KOSPI continued its upward trend throughout the trading session, closing at a record high. Although it fell short of breaking the 8000 mark, it ended just 19 points shy of that milestone.
On May 14, the Korea Exchange reported that the KOSPI rose by 137.40 points, or 1.75%, to close at 7981.41. The index opened at 7873.91, up 29.90 points, and steadily increased throughout the day.
In terms of trading volume, both individual and institutional investors contributed to the index's rise. In the main market, individuals purchased a net 22.9 billion won, while institutions bought a net 1.289 billion won. In contrast, foreign investors sold a net 23.048 billion won, taking profits.
Lee Kyung-min, a researcher at Daishin Securities, noted, "Foreign investors have been net sellers for six consecutive trading days. However, the intensity of their selling has eased, and the impact on the index has been limited due to the buying from individuals and institutions."
Large-cap stocks showed mixed performance across sectors. Samsung Electronics rose by 4.23%, Hyundai Motor by 0.28%, LG Energy Solution by 2.79%, and Samsung C&T by 1.63%. Conversely, SK Hynix fell by 0.30%, SK Square by 1.60%, Samsung Electro-Mechanics by 0.49%, Doosan Enerbility by 2.42%, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries dropped by 7.37%.
The KOSDAQ index also maintained its upward trajectory, closing at 1191.09, up 14.16 points or 1.20%. The index opened at 1187.02 and fluctuated throughout the day but ultimately finished higher.
In the KOSDAQ market, foreign and institutional investors sold a net 130.1 billion won and 72.8 billion won, respectively. Meanwhile, individual investors bought a net 143.3 billion won, indicating a trend of bargain hunting.
The top KOSDAQ stocks exhibited a mixed trend as well. Alteogen rose by 8.90%, EcoPro BM by 5.53%, EcoPro by 4.44%, and Samchundang Pharm by 0.38%. On the other hand, Rainbow Robotics fell by 3.99%, Kolon TissueGene by 6.92%, Rino Technology by 0.36%, Rigakem Bio by 0.96%, and HLB by 0.37%.

* This article has been translated by AI.

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