[Edaily Reporter Shin Ha-yeon ] The KOSPI rose by more than 1% on the 4th, regaining the 6,600 level. As interest rate pressure eased following remarks by U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) Governor Christopher Waller suggesting the possibility of a rate freeze in September, foreign and institutional investors drove a wave of buying. The KOSDAQ also surged nearly 3%, breaking above the 810 mark.

According to MP Doctor on the 4th, the KOSPI closed at 6,687.21, up 107.73 points (1.64%) from the previous trading day. The index opened at 6,654.36, up 1.14% from the previous session, and rose as high as 6,746.14 during the session. The intraday low was 6,632.77.

In terms of supply and demand, foreign investors and institutional investors made net purchases of 503.4 billion won and 1.6691 trillion won, respectively, on the stock market. In contrast, retail investors made net sales of 3.7225 trillion won. Program trading, combining arbitrage and non-arbitrage trades, recorded a net buying position of 553.5 billion won.

By sector, medical and precision instruments closed up by over 3%. Following that, most sectors—including IT services, electricity and electronics, machinery and equipment, telecommunications, manufacturing, securities, entertainment and culture, transportation and warehousing, paper and wood, construction, chemicals, general services, finance, textiles and apparel, and real estate—rose. In contrast, sectors such as insurance, electricity and gas, food, beverages, and tobacco, retail, metals, pharmaceuticals, and transportation equipment and parts closed lower.

Among the top market-cap stocks, SamsungElectronics(005930)closed at 255,500 won, up 5,500 won (2.20%) from the previous trading day. SK hynix(000660)closed at 1,647,000 won, up 51,000 won (3.20%). Other stocks that closed higher included SKSQUARE(402340)(6.12%) and SamsungElectroMechanics(009150)(3.93%). LG Energy Solution(373220)(-1.92%), SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)(-2.03%), KB Financial Group(105560)(-3.32%), and Samsung Life Insurance(032830)(-1.82%) ended the day in the red.

On the KOSPI, 549 stocks rose—including one that hit the daily price limit—while 309 stocks fell. Fifty-one stocks closed unchanged.

Kang Jin-hyuk, a senior analyst at Shinhan Investment Securities, commented on the day’s market conditions, stating, “A sense of relief set in following Wheeler’s remarks suggesting a hold on interest rates in September.” He added, “Despite ongoing oil price volatility, tech stocks—particularly U.S. big tech and software companies—performed strongly on the back of successive dovish comments from Fed officials.” He further analyzed that the domestic stock market also rebounded, led by semiconductors, allowing the KOSPI to recover the 6,600 level.

On the same day, the KOSDAQ index closed at 813.50, up 23.29 points (2.95%) from the previous trading day, marking its first gain in five days since the 28th of last month. The index opened at 802.32, up 1.53%, but dipped to 798.97 during the session before extending its gains to reach a high of 816.54.

In terms of trading activity, foreign investors and institutions were net buyers of 262.4 billion won and 160.3 billion won, respectively, while retail investors were net sellers of 411.9 billion won. Program trading showed a net buying volume of 400.3 billion won.

On the KOSDAQ market, 1,199 stocks rose—including four that hit the daily upper price limit—while 436 stocks fell. Ninety-seven stocks closed unchanged, and one hit the daily lower price limit.

U.S. employment and inflation indicators are expected to once again be the key factors determining the market’s future direction. Following the release of the U.S. August employment report tonight, the U.S. August Producer Price Index (PPI) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) are scheduled for release next week.

Analyst Kang noted, “While the market has remained supported by corporate actions such as share buybacks, the problem lies in macroeconomic downward pressure,” and cautioned that investors should be wary of the possibility that foreign selling could intensify again in response to developments in the Middle East or negative economic data.

DaishinSecurities assessed that while the domestic stock market has been weak due to external uncertainties, export and earnings momentum—particularly in semiconductors—remains solid. South Korea’s semiconductor exports in August rose 209% year-over-year, and non-semiconductor items such as rechargeable batteries and biohealth also continued to perform well.

Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at DaishinSecurities, noted, “We need to utilize excessive short-term volatility as an opportunity to increase our positions,” adding, “If government bond yields stabilize as the consensus on future interest rate hikes converges toward zero, this is expected to serve as a factor strengthening the stock market’s rebound momentum.”

Meanwhile, on the 3rd (local time), the three major indices on the New York Stock Exchange all rose by more than 1% as concerns over a September interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve eased. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.18%, the S&P 500 rose 1.06%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained 1.40%.

Investor sentiment improved after Federal Reserve Governor Waller remarked that signs of disinflation have recently been confirmed and that, if the August inflation rate continues its downward trend, he may support keeping interest rates unchanged at this month’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.