[Digital Today reporter Sangyeop Oh (오상엽)] South Korea's KOSPI jumped more than 2 percent on May 27, extending record highs for a second straight session. Investor sentiment remained strong on the first day of trading for single-stock leveraged products tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix as underlying assets.

The KOSPI ended up 181.19 points, or 2.25 percent, at 8,228.70. It opened up 194.61 points, or 2.42 percent, at 8,242.12 and climbed to as high as 8,457.09 early in the session, setting a new 52-week high.

After closing above 8,000 for the first time on a closing basis on the previous day, the KOSPI set another record on May 27. Gains were strong enough early on to trigger a buy-side car on the main board as KOSPI 200 futures surged, but the index gave back part of its advance and finished in the 8,200 range.

By investor type, retail and institutions posted net purchases of 403.5 billion won and 189.7 billion won, respectively. Foreigners, meanwhile, posted net sales of 448.4 billion won. Retail and institutions bought together to support the rise, while foreigners shifted from net buying early in the session to net selling.

Top market-cap stocks gained, led by semiconductor shares. Samsung Electronics rose 2.68 percent to 307,000 won and SK Hynix jumped 9.31 percent to 2,243,000 won.

SK Square rose 8.04 percent to 1,276,000 won. Samsung Electro-Mechanics gained 3.69 percent and Samsung Life rose 1.87 percent.

Hyundai Motor fell 1.16 percent, LG Energy Solution slipped 4.01 percent, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 0.13 percent and Doosan Enerbility dropped 3.64 percent.

The market's strength was driven largely by gains in large-cap semiconductor stocks. SK Hynix rose more than 9 percent to lift the index, and Samsung Electronics ended above the 300,000-won level.

The first listing on May 27 of single-stock leveraged products that track twice the daily returns of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix is also seen as a factor that increased interest in the related stocks.

Gains were concentrated in large KOSPI stocks. The Kosdaq closed down 39.39 points, or 3.36 percent, at 1,133.13. It started weaker and widened losses, moving in the opposite direction from the KOSPI.

In Seoul's foreign exchange market, the won stood at 1,500.80 per dollar, up 6.70 won from the previous session.