![An electronic board showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index at a dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap)]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2025/07/CP-2023-0309/31150403.jpg)
This marks the highest level since August 9, 2021, when the index closed at 3,260.42.
Trading volume was moderate, with 335.65 million shares worth 12.88 trillion KRW (9.31 billion USD) changing hands. Gainers outnumbered losers 474 to 406.
The index opened slightly higher despite overnight losses on Wall Street and continued to build momentum throughout the day.
Foreign and institutional investors were net buyers, purchasing 580.58 billion KRW (435.44 million USD) and 330.81 billion KRW (248.11 million USD) worth of shares, respectively. In contrast, retail investors were net sellers, offloading 984.91 billion KRW (738.68 million USD).
Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, noted, “As investors digest corporate earnings reports, we’re likely to see varied stock movements within sectors, depending on individual company performance.”
Market attention is also focused on the ongoing tariff negotiations between South Korea and the United States. With only two days remaining until the August 1 deadline, there’s mounting pressure to reach a deal before the US imposes reciprocal tariffs, including a 25 percent duty on South Korean imports.
In the latest round of talks, South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan, and Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo held a two-hour meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington on Tuesday.
Koo is scheduled to meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on Thursday for what could be a crucial showdown. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun plans to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Tech and auto shares spearheaded the market’s advance.
Market heavyweight Samsung Electronics surged 2.83 percent to 72,500 KRW (54.38 USD), while semiconductor giant SK hynix edged up 0.38 percent to 263,500 KRW (197.63 USD).
LG Energy Solution, a major battery manufacturer, saw a 0.26 percent increase to 393,000 KRW (294.75 USD) following news of a 4.3 billion USD contract to supply Tesla with lithium iron phosphate batteries for energy storage systems.
Leading pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 0.92 percent, closing at 1.1 million KRW (825,000 USD).
In the auto sector, top automaker Hyundai Motor jumped 2.29 percent to 223,000 KRW (167.25 USD), while its affiliate Kia soared 4.45 percent to 110,400 KRW (82.80 USD). Financial giant KB Financial Group also saw gains, rising 1.35 percent to 112,800 KRW (84.60 USD).
However, not all sectors fared well. Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dipped 2.1 percent to 977,000 KRW (732.75 USD) due to profit-taking, while nuclear power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility slid 2.15 percent to 63,700 KRW (47.78 USD).
In the heavy industry sector, leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries fell 0.53 percent to 471,000 KRW (353.25 USD), and steel behemoth POSCO dropped 1.11 percent to 313,000 KRW (234.75 USD).
The Korean won strengthened against the US dollar, trading at 1,383.1 won per dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 7.9 won from the previous session’s close. (Yonhap)
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