[Digital Today reporter Sang-yeop Oh (오상엽)] The KOSPI ended slightly higher on Jan. 30 after a roller-coaster session.

The KOSPI closed up 3.11 points, or 0.06 percent, at 5,224.36 from the previous session.

The index opened down 10.90 points, or 0.21 percent, at 5,210.35. It soon rebounded and surged to as high as 5,321.68 intraday. It was the first time the KOSPI topped 5,300 during the session.

The KOSPI later gave up gains and at one point slipped to 5,199.78, briefly breaking below the 5,200 level. It then rebounded sharply again and tried to approach 5,300, swinging sharply throughout the day.

Foreign investors and institutions were net sellers of 1294.3 billion won and 529.4 billion won, respectively. Retail investors were net buyers of 1731.7 billion won, supporting the index.

Most of the top 10 KOSPI stocks by market capitalisation fell. Samsung Electronics fell 0.12 percent, while Hyundai Motor slid 5.30 percent, LG Energy Solution lost 4.44 percent, Samsung Biologics dropped 1.75 percent, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 2.21 percent and Kia declined 1.48 percent.

SK Hynix, which settled above the 900,000 won level, rose 5.57 percent, and SK Square gained 7.34 percent. Hanwha Aerospace ended flat.

The Kosdaq ended down 14.97 points, or 1.29 percent, at 1,149.44. Institutions were net buyers of 1334.6 billion won, but retail investors and foreign investors were net sellers of 982.4 billion won and 224.9 billion won, pulling the index lower.