The KOSPI opened higher on the 4th, bolstered by the strength of the U.S. stock market overnight, but has since turned mixed, briefly dipping into negative territory.

As of 9:23 a.m. today (the 4th), the KOSPI stood at 6,302.39, up 44.94 points (0.72%) from the previous session.

It has since reversed downward and is fluctuating around the flat line.

The index started at 6,351.38, up 93.93 points (1.50%) from the previous session, and briefly expanded its gains to as high as 6,389.40 before the upward momentum narrowed.

In the KOSPI market, individuals and foreigners are net buyers, purchasing 158.4 billion won and 268.4 billion won, respectively, to prop up the index, while institutions hold a net selling advantage of 445.9 billion won.

Foreigners turned to a net buyer after just one day, having net sold approximately 2.8 trillion won in the KOSPI market the previous day.

However, foreigners are currently net sellers in the KOSPI 200 futures market, offloading 24.3 billion won.

Wall Street indices closed higher across the board overnight as the tech sector's strength persisted.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.32% from the previous session, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indices gained 1.48% and 2.13%, respectively.

This was driven by easing expectations of military conflict following U.S. President Donald Trump's cancellation of strikes against Iran, alongside Wall Street's positive assessment of AI investment profitability, which improved sentiment toward tech stocks.

With Nvidia (2.93%) and Microsoft (4.93%) advancing, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose 1.06%.

SK Hynix ADRs fell 0.70% during the regular session but rose 2.93% in after-hours trading.

Amid easing geopolitical tensions, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for delivery next month closed down 5.1% from the previous trading session at $80.34 per barrel.

Given that the KOSPI suffered a steep drop the previous day despite the easing U.S.-Iran tensions and the strength of the U.S. market, some bargain hunting appears to be flowing in.

Among top market capitalization stocks, SK Hynix, which plummeted over 8% the previous day, opened higher before turning downward and is showing a decline in the 2% range.

SK Square (2.54%), LG Energy Solution (0.95%), Samsung Biologics (0.14%), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (1.59%) are also on the rise.

In addition, Hanwha Solutions is surging 9.48% on news that Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan will participate in a paid-in capital increase.

Conversely, Samsung Electronics is capping the index gains with a decline in the 2% to 3% range, while Samsung Electro-Mechanics (-0.76%), Hyundai Motor (-1.91%), Kia (-1.31%), and Samsung Life Insurance (-0.52%) are also weak.

By sector, construction (5.45%), IT services (3.14%), and telecommunications (2.90%) are advancing, while food and beverage (-0.49%) and consumer discretionary (-1.11%) are declining.

At the same time, the KOSDAQ index stood at 771.73, up 34.38 points (4.66%) from the previous session.

It has since maintained gains in the 3% to 4% range.

The KOSDAQ index opened at 748.19, up 10.84 points (1.47%) from the previous session, and has been expanding its gains.

It briefly surged to 772.65 during the intraday session.

Following a surge of over 11% on the 31st of last month and a 2.4% rise the previous day, the KOSDAQ index is continuing its upward trajectory for the third consecutive trading session today.

(Photo: Yonhap News)