The KOSPI index, which fell below 7100 after initially surpassing 8000 on May 15, rebounded sharply after four days of decline, breaking through the 7700 mark.
As of 12:49 PM on May 21, the KOSPI was up 7.66% from the previous trading day, reaching 7761.43. Early in the session, the index surged, triggering simultaneous buy-side circuit breakers for both KOSPI and KOSDAQ.
Investor sentiment improved following a tentative wage agreement reached between labor and management at Samsung Electronics, coupled with Nvidia's earnings report that exceeded market expectations. Additionally, President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran were nearing completion, contributing to a decline in international oil prices and U.S. Treasury yields, which positively affected the stock market.
In the securities market, institutional investors purchased over 1.4 trillion won in stocks, driving the index higher. Foreign investors sold about 1 trillion won, while individual investors sold around 400 billion won, realizing profits.
Samsung Electronics, which resolved its labor negotiations dramatically the previous night, saw its shares soar by over 8%, touching 300,000 won early in the session. SK Hynix's stock rose 11.06% to 1,938,000 won.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics also experienced a surge of over 12% after announcing a 1.5 trillion won supply contract for silicon capacitors with a global company. Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung C&T rose by 12% and 11%, respectively. Hyundai Motor Group stocks also performed well, with Hyundai Motor up 9% and Kia up over 11%.
Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, noted, "The agreement at Samsung Electronics has led to a broad rally among its affiliates. The Hyundai Motor Group is also showing strength due to expectations surrounding its Atlas business roadmap and vertical integration into mass production."
The KOSDAQ index opened 29.23 points (2.77%) higher at 1085.30 and, as of 12:49 PM, was up 5.07% at 1109.61 compared to the previous trading day.
In the KOSDAQ market, foreign investors were net buyers of 130 billion won, while institutions bought 160 billion won. Individual investors sold over 280 billion won.
Top KOSDAQ stocks also saw gains, including Alteogen (0.70%), EcoProBM (10.58%), EcoPro (10.36%), Rainbow Robotics (15.20%), Kolon TissueGene (3.56%), Samchundang Pharm (2.45%), Lino Biotech (6.15%), Rigakem Bio (3.62%), HLB (2.94%), and ABL Bio (4.70%).
MakinaRax, which successfully debuted on the stock market with a "double-up" (quadrupling its initial public offering price), continued to rise by over 30%, reaching its upper limit today.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.