[Digital Today reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] South Korea's KOSPI on April 29 closed higher for a third straight session and set a new high despite negative news affecting U.S. tech stocks linked to OpenAI overnight.

The KOSPI ended up 49.88 points, or 0.75 percent, at 6,690.90. It opened down 22.02 points, or 0.33 percent, at 6,619.00, dragged by broad declines in major U.S. big tech stocks in New York overnight, but institutional buying in the afternoon lifted it to touch the 6,700 level during the session.

Wall Street fell on news that OpenAI's growth was slowing and it was missing revenue targets, denting expectations for artificial intelligence. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plunged 4 percent, hitting the tech-heavy Nasdaq. The domestic market, however, did not react sharply and managed to rebound.

By investor type, foreigners net sold 607.1 billion won, while retail investors net bought 167.4 billion won and institutions net bought 478.2 billion won, supporting the index.

Top market-cap stocks mostly held up despite U.S.-driven negative semiconductor news. Bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.80 percent to 226,000 won, while SK Hynix fell 0.54 percent to 1,293,000 won.

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 3.45 percent, SK Square gained 2.34 percent, Hanwha Aerospace added 1.79 percent, Doosan Enerbility rose 1.10 percent, LG Energy Solution gained 0.21 percent and Hyundai Motor advanced 0.18 percent.

Samsung Biologics, however, fell 2.06 percent to end lower.

The KOSDAQ also turned higher. The index shook off early losses to end up 4.68 points, or 0.39 percent, at 1,220.26.

In Seoul's foreign exchange market, the won stood at 1,478.40 per dollar, down 3.90 won.