KOSPI Closes Up 2% on Foreign Buying, But All-Time High Remains Unreached

by Lee Minwoo

Published 15 Apr.2026 16:03(KST)

Foreign Investors Become Net Buyers in Both Markets

Both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ indices surged by more than 2% on April 15, driven by net buying from foreign investors in both markets.

On this day, the KOSPI closed at 6,091.39, up 2.07% from the previous session. Although it retreated somewhat from its opening at 6,141.60, which was a 2.91% increase, it maintained an upward trend. During intraday trading, the index soared as high as 6,183.21.

Foreign investors were the sole net buyers, purchasing a net amount of 619.9 billion won. Meanwhile, individual investors and institutional investors were net sellers, offloading 904.5 billion won and 72.3 billion won, respectively.

Almost all sectors recorded gains. The construction sector registered the largest increase at 5.98%, followed by IT services (4.61%), machinery and equipment (3.16%), pharmaceuticals (3.09%), electrical and electronics (2.36%), and distribution (2.08%). In contrast, real estate (-1.48%) and paper and wood (-1.02%) sectors declined.

Most of the top 10 stocks by market capitalization also climbed. Doosan Enerbility led the gains with a 4.7% increase, followed by SK Square (4.6%), Samsung Biologics (4.3%), Hyundai Motor (3.5%), SK hynix (3.3%), and Samsung Electronics (2.6%). Hanwha Aerospace was the only one among the top 10 to decline, falling by 0.8%.

The KOSDAQ outperformed, closing regular trading at 1,152.43, up 2.72% from the previous day. Starting at 1,140.62, the index widened its gains throughout the session, reaching as high as 1,156.02, a 3.04% increase compared to the previous day.

In the KOSDAQ market, both foreign and institutional investors were net buyers, purchasing 204.1 billion won and 156.6 billion won, respectively. Individual investors were net sellers, offloading 320.3 billion won.

All sectors rose. Pharmaceuticals (4.24%), general services (4.10%), construction (3.18%), chemicals (2.80%), and finance (2.65%) showed particularly strong performances.

All of the top 10 KOSDAQ stocks by market capitalization posted gains. HLB recorded the largest increase at 8.7%, followed by Samchundang Pharm (7.5%), LegoChem Biosciences (6.4%), ABL Bio (5.7%), and Alteogen (5.6%), with several stocks rising by more than 5%.

On the 15th, the status board in the dealing room at the Hana Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul displays the KOSPI and other indexes. Photo by Yonhap News