[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyung-il ] The KOSPI is trading around the 6,600 level, maintaining a gain of over 4% during the session. The recent bullish trend seen in the KOSDAQ market appears to be spreading to the KOSPI, as evidenced by the activation of a buy-side “side car” (temporary suspension of buy orders in program trading) early in the session.

According to MP Doctor on the 5th, as of 1:40 p.m., the KOSPI stands at 6,623.27, up 264.32 points (4.16%) from the previous trading day. The KOSDAQ is also trading at 798.14, up 17.42 points (2.23%).

A buy-side sidecar was triggered in the KOSPI market at 9:24 a.m. today. This marks the 22nd buy-side sidecar triggered so far this year, and the 45th overall when including sell-side sidecars (23 instances). The Korea Exchange explained that the trigger conditions were met because the price of the Mini KOSPI 200 futures rose by more than 5% and remained at that level for over one minute. Following the activation, the effectiveness of buy orders in program trading was suspended for five minutes and then automatically lifted.

By investor type, on the KOSPI, foreign investors are driving the index higher with purchases of 996.5 billion won, while institutions are buying 32.2 billion won. In contrast, retail investors are selling 1.0333 trillion won. On the KOSDAQ, retail investors are buying 358.3 billion won, while foreign investors and institutions are selling 317.6 billion won and 49.9 billion won, respectively.

On the KOSPI, stocks are rising across the board by market capitalization, led by large-cap stocks (4.71%), followed by mid-cap (2.84%) and small-cap (1.49%) stocks. By sector, construction (6.13%), electrical and electronics (5.55%), and machinery and equipment (5.36%) are leading the gains, while retail (4.00%), transportation equipment and parts (3.62%), and finance (3.34%) are also showing strength, indicating that buying momentum is spreading across the board.

Among the top market-cap stocks, SamsungElectronics(005930)(3.75%), SK hynix(000660)(7.23%), SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)(13.76%), and HyundaiMotor(005380)(3.69%) are showing gains. Following the strong performance of U.S. semiconductor stocks overnight and improved sentiment toward AI investments, buying interest appears to be flowing into domestic semiconductor stocks as well. Koh Young Technology Inc., an analyst at Daol Investment & Securities, noted, “Recent stock price volatility in the semiconductor sector has been driven more by supply-and-demand and sentiment factors than by a deterioration in business conditions,” adding, “Uncertainty regarding business conditions in the second half of the year is limited.”

Among the top-market-cap stocks on the KOSDAQ, Alteogen Inc.(196170)(3.56%), JUSUNG ENGINEERING Co.,Ltd.(036930)(4.26%), and HLB INC.(028300)(3.20%) were among those posting gains. In contrast, ECOPRO CO., LTD(086520)(-0.24%) and ECOPRO BM CO., LTD.(247540)(-1.37%) were trading lower.

Rising stocks also dominated the market overall. On the KOSPI, 643 stocks rose, while 244 fell and 28 remained unchanged. On the KOSDAQ, 1,269 stocks rose—including 9 that hit their daily upper price limit—while 370 fell. Eighty-four remained unchanged.

Kang Jin-hyuk, an analyst at Shinhan Investment Securities, commented, “U.S. semiconductor stocks performed strongly due to stable oil prices and interest rates, as well as easing concerns over AI profitability following Big Tech earnings reports.” He added, “The domestic stock market is also seeing a sector-rotation trend, with demand spreading from semiconductors to non-semiconductor stocks and the KOSDAQ market amid the semiconductor rally.”