'Institutional Buying' Lifts KOSPI Back Above 6,200... KOSDAQ Also Closes Higher

KOSPI Recovers 6,200 Level at 6,219.09 on Institutional Buying
SK hynix and Samsung SDI Lead Gains

Despite external uncertainties stemming from the Middle East, the Korean stock market closed higher on April 20. Supported by institutional buying, the KOSPI once again reclaimed the 6,200 level.

On this day, the KOSPI index closed at 6,219.09, up 27.17 points (0.44%) from the previous trading day. The index began the day at 6,213.92, up 22.00 points (0.36%), and fluctuated within positive territory throughout the session. Foreign investors sold KRW 162.9 billion worth of shares, and individual investors sold KRW 277.7 billion. In contrast, institutional investors were net buyers, purchasing KRW 191.7 billion worth of shares.

Semiconductors and Secondary Batteries Lead Gains... SK hynix Hits Record High

On the 20th, the closing price of the KOSPI index was displayed on the status board at the Shinhan Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. Shinhan Bank

By sector, machinery and equipment (1.06%), electrical and electronics (1.05%), real estate (1.01%), manufacturing (0.65%), and metals (0.64%) rose. In contrast, entertainment and culture (-1.99%), construction (-1.76%), telecommunications (-1.67%), securities (-1.21%), IT services (-1.12%), and precision medical equipment (-1.11%) closed lower.

Among large-cap stocks, Samsung SDI (4.87%), SK hynix (3.37%), SK Square (2.79%), LG Energy Solution (2.63%), Doosan Enerbility (2.30%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (1.95%) gained. Notably, SK hynix set a new all-time high ahead of its earnings announcement scheduled for April 23. On the other hand, Hyundai Motor (-2.04%), Kia (-1.13%), Hanwha Ocean (-1.00%), Celltrion (-0.96%), KB Financial Group (-0.86%), and Samsung Electronics (-0.69%) declined.

Lim Jeongeun, a researcher at KB Securities, said, "The domestic stock market showed a solid trend as institutional buying increased." She added, "Amid news that Iran attacked a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz and that the United States seized an Iran-related vessel, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices surged to the high $80 range per barrel, and the dollar-won exchange rate rebounded to the 1,470 won level."

KOSDAQ Rebounds During Session... Jusung Engineering Hits Upper Limit

The KOSDAQ index ended the session at 1,174.85, up 4.81 points (0.41%) from the previous trading day. Although KOSDAQ was weak in early trading, it reversed course and finished on a strong note. Foreign investors were net buyers of KRW 18.8 billion, and individual investors purchased KRW 162.2 billion. Meanwhile, institutional investors sold KRW 165.0 billion worth of shares.

Among KOSDAQ large-cap stocks, Jusung Engineering (29.97%), Voronoi (11.56%), Robotis (4.76%), HPSP (2.70%), Ecopro (2.44%), Alteogen (1.50%), LigachemBio (1.32%), Leeno Industrial (1.13%), and Kolon TissueGene (1.03%) rose. In contrast, Caregen (-2.47%), Samchundang Pharm (-1.65%), Rainbow Robotics (-1.14%), and Peptron (-0.95%) posted losses.

Researcher Lim commented, "While volatility is inevitable due to uncertainties surrounding negotiations between the United States and Iran, the market's sensitivity to such factors is gradually diminishing." She added, "In this environment, there is a possibility that differentiated and rotational trading will continue, focusing on existing leading stocks and those with high earnings visibility."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.