The Kospi started higher today (the 23rd) and recovered the 7,000 mark during intraday trading.

As of 9:17 AM, the Kospi is up 247.78 points from the previous trading day at 7,045.48.

The Kospi opened at 6,963.35, up 165.65 points from the previous session, and gradually expanded its gains to climb above the 7,000 threshold.

Yesterday, the Kospi also briefly recaptured the 7,000 mark during intraday trading, but its gains narrowed in the afternoon, closing below the 7,000 milestone.

Foreign investors are maintaining a buying advantage for the fourth consecutive trading day with a net purchase of 4.0691 trillion won, while individual and institutional investors are net sellers of 263.7 billion won and 197.3 billion won, respectively.

Semiconductor heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are both posting gains in the 4% to 5% range, while SK Square, Samsung Life Insurance, and Samsung C&T, which hold stakes in these firms, are also rising together.

The index rally appears to be driven by projections that demand for AI semiconductors will persist, following an announcement by Google parent company Alphabet that it will expand capital expenditures.

During a conference call held today, Alphabet Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi stated, "We are raising our total capital expenditure for fiscal year 2026 from the previous 180 billion to 190 billion dollars to 195 billion to 205 billion dollars."

However, rising military tensions in the Red Sea following the Strait of Hormuz, which have pushed up international oil prices and interest rates, are acting as a burden on the stock market.

Following reports that an oil tanker was attacked in the Red Sea off the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures rose to the upper 80 dollars per barrel.

As of 9:17 AM, the Kosdaq index stood at 768.04, up 16.95 points from the previous session, with foreigners recording a net purchase of 14.9 billion won and individuals recording a net sale of 15.2 billion won.

(Photo: Yonhap News)