KOSPI Closes at All-Time High, Regains 7,800 Mark

Started Lower, Then Rebounded
KOSDAQ Closes Down from Previous Session

The KOSPI index closed at its highest level ever on a closing basis. Although it started lower due to concerns over U.S. inflation and profit-taking in semiconductor stocks, the index reversed course and climbed as individual investors flocked to buy shares of SK hynix and others.

On the 12th, when the KOSPI index surpassed the 7,900 mark intraday for the first time in history, an employee was monitoring the stock market and exchange rates in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul. On that day, the KOSPI opened the session at 7,953.41, up 1.68% from the previous trading day. May 12, 2026 Photo by Cho Yongjun

On the 13th, the KOSPI index finished at 7,844.01, up 200.86 points (2.63%) from the previous session. The index had initially opened at 7,513.65, down 129.50 points (1.69%) from the previous day, but rebounded and regained the 7,800 mark after turning upward.

By investor type, individuals and institutions led the rally with net purchases of KRW 1.8871 trillion and KRW 1.6872 trillion, respectively. In contrast, foreign investors recorded a net selling of KRW 3.7584 trillion.

Performance by sector was mixed. Transport equipment & parts (+5.65%), electrical & electronics (+3.75%), transportation & storage (+3.32%), and manufacturing (+3.27%) closed higher, while real estate (-2.70%), general services (-2.48%), pharmaceuticals (-1.81%), and food, beverage & tobacco (-1.76%) ended lower.

The top 20 stocks by market capitalization also showed mixed results. Shares of Hyundai Mobis (+18.43%), Hyundai Motor (+9.91%), SK hynix (+7.68%), and Samsung Electro-Mechanics (+7.41%) rose, while Doosan Enerbility (-4.46%), LG Energy Solution (-2.93%), Samsung Biologics (-2.29%), and HD Hyundai Electric (-2.22%) declined.

On this day, the KOSPI opened lower due to concerns about U.S. inflation and profit-taking in semiconductor stocks. However, news that Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, boarded Air Force One headed for Beijing led Nvidia's stock price to surge more than 1.5% in after-hours trading. This triggered strong individual buying centered on SK hynix, which helped limit the KOSPI's early losses. Initially, CEO Huang was not expected to accompany U.S. President Donald Trump on his visit to China.

The KOSDAQ index closed at 1,176.93, down 2.36 points (0.20%) from the previous session.

On the 11th, when the KOSPI index surpassed the 7,800 mark intraday for the first time in history, an employee was monitoring the stock market and exchange rates in the dealing room at the Headquarters of Hana Bank in Jung-gu, Seoul. On that day, the KOSPI opened at 7,775.31, up 277.31 points (3.70%) from the previous trading day, while the KOSDAQ opened at 1,212.88, up 5.16 points (0.43%). 2026.5.8 Photo by Jo Yongjun

By investor type, foreign investors and institutions posted net sales of KRW 602 billion and KRW 3 billion, respectively, while individual investors recorded a net purchase of KRW 604.9 billion.

More sectors ended lower than higher. Pharmaceuticals (-3.48%), financials (-2.73%), construction (-2.53%), and telecommunications (-2.03%) finished down. In contrast, machinery & equipment (+3.81%), chemicals (+0.59%), transport equipment & parts (+0.40%), and medical precision instruments (+0.34%) closed higher.

Among the top 20 companies by market capitalization, most saw their share prices decline. Stocks such as Kolon TissueGene (-11.53%), Peptron (-6.98%), HLB (-5.48%), and ABL Bio (-4.69%) fell. On the other hand, EO Technics (+12.03%), Jusung Engineering (+7.69%), Padu (+5.49%), and Wonik IPS (+4.96%) surged.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,490.6 won, up 0.7 won from the previous day.

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