[DigitalToday reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] South Korea's KOSPI on Feb. 12 broke above 5,500 for the first time, lifted by semiconductor shares including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.
The KOSPI ended up 167.78 points, or 3.13 percent, at 5,522.27, setting a record high close. It extended gains for a fourth straight session since Feb. 9.
The index opened up 70.90 points, or 1.32 percent, at 5,425.39. It first broke above 5,400, then pushed past 5,500 and ended with a larger gain.
Retail investors sold 4.4503 trillion won worth of shares. Foreigners bought 3.0014 trillion won and institutions bought 1.3697 trillion won, absorbing the retail selling.
Samsung Electronics ended up 10,800 won, or 6.44 percent, at 178,600 won. SK Hynix rose 28,000 won, or 3.26 percent, to 888,000 won, with the KOSPI's top two stocks leading the index together.
Other large-cap shares also ended mostly higher, including LG Energy Solution, up 4.59 percent, Samsung Biologics, up 0.41 percent, SK Square, up 7.14 percent, Kia, up 2.78 percent, and KB Financial, up 2.43 percent.
The KOSDAQ ended up 11.12 points, or 1.00 percent, at 1,125.99.
Sangyeop Oh
yub@d-today.co.kr