[DigitalToday reporter Sangyeob Oh (오상엽)] The KOSPI rose for a fourth straight session on joint buying by foreigners and institutions. Foreigners posted net buying in the main board market for a third consecutive day, and heavyweight chipmakers including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix led the index higher.

On Aug. 13, the KOSPI ended up 234.30 points, or 3.56 percent, at 6,813.34. The index opened higher by 194.88 points, or 2.96 percent, at 6,773.92 and climbed as high as 6,895.63, approaching 6,900.

In the main board market, foreigners were net buyers of 2.0978 trillion won. Institutions also bought 681.7 billion won, while retail investors were net sellers of 2.7269 trillion won.

Foreigners extended net buying for a third straight day, underpinning the KOSPI's four-session rise. Buying also flowed into large chip stocks, and the KOSPI's gain far outpaced the KOSDAQ.

Samsung Electronics closed up 4.89 percent at 268,000 won. SK Hynix rose 5.92 percent to 1,593,000 won.

SK Square jumped 9.08 percent to 1,117,000 won, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics ended up 12.58 percent at 1,503,000 won.

Hyundai Motor rose 2.20 percent to 418,500 won, and LG Energy Solution gained 1.95 percent to 365,500 won. Samsung Biologics rose 0.97 percent, Hanwha Aerospace gained 2.51 percent, and KB Financial Group rose 1.27 percent.

The KOSDAQ closed up 2.46 points, or 0.29 percent, at 861.37.

Liquidity that had recently spread to the KOSDAQ and small- and mid-cap shares refocused on KOSPI heavyweights including semiconductors, widening the gap between the two markets' gains.

In the Seoul foreign exchange market, the won-dollar exchange rate was 1,421.50 won, up 2.50 won from the previous session.