With the surge in U.S. Treasury yields easing and record-breaking semiconductor exports, semiconductor and robotics stocks showed strong performance in the domestic stock market on the 4th. On both major markets, retail investors sold net while foreigners and institutional investors bought shares, driving index gains.
As of 10:44 a.m., the KOSPI was up 68.20 points (1.04%) at 6,647.68. The KOSPI opened regular trading at 6,654.36 and maintained gains above 1% in the morning session.
Large-cap semiconductor stocks, in particular, showed strong performance. Samsung Electronics rose by 4,000 won (1.60%) to trade at 250,400 won, while SK Hynix traded up by 34,000 won (2.13%) at 1.63 million won. SK Square and Samsung Electro-Mechanics rose 1–2%, showing strength, whereas major financial stocks such as KB Financial Group and Shinhan Financial Group showed weakness.
This is interpreted as a result of renewed risk appetite for technology stocks in the U.S. New York stock market overnight. Christopher Waller, a Federal Reserve (Fed) governor, indicated that if inflation pressure eases based on price data, he could support a base rate hold at the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting scheduled for the 15th–16th, leading to an easing of the surge in 10-year Treasury yields.
Kim Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "The surge in U.S. 10-year yields eased following Governor Waller's dovish remarks (favoring monetary easing), triggering a virtuous cycle led by M7 stocks including NVIDIA (+1.8%), Tesla (+5.4%), and Microsoft (+2.9%)." She added, "As time passes, the domestic supply-demand foundation will normalize, continuing a path of raising lows."
Record-breaking current account balance surpluses driven by strong semiconductor exports were also absorbed as positive factors for stock prices. According to provisional international balance of payments statistics released by the Bank of Korea, July's current account balance surplus reached $42.08 billion, marking the second-highest monthly figure and the largest on record for July. In particular, explosive growth in semiconductor exports increased the goods trade surplus, lifting the overall current account balance surplus.
Kim Seok-hwan, a researcher at Mirae Asset Securities, analyzed, "The current account balance surplus was the second-largest on record, while semiconductor exports surged 176.3% year-on-year, driving stock price gains for AI-related chipmakers including SK Hynix, Samsung Electronics, Hanmi Semiconductor, and IOTech."
In the KOSPI market, retail investors sold net worthing 1.2792 trillion won, while foreigners bought net worthing 262.2 billion won and institutional investors bought net worthing 597.1 billion won, driving index gains.
At the same time, KOSDAQ rose by 11.34 points (1.44%) to 801.55 compared to the previous trading day. KOSDAQ opened up 12.11 points (1.53%) at 802.32 from the previous session and recovered above the 800th level.
In KOSDAQ, semiconductor and robotics stocks showed particularly strong performance. Robotis traded at 295,000 won, up by 47,000 won (18.91%) from the previous day, surging over 22% during trading and maintaining strength throughout the morning. Rainbow Robotics rose 3.89%, while semiconductor-related stocks such as Wonik IPS (+5.52%) and IOTech (+4.43%) also showed strength.
Researcher Kim Seok-hwan diagnosed, "China's humanoid robot development boom has led to a sharp increase in domestic component companies' sales to China. With expectations of substitute demand for Chinese products in the North American market, robotics stocks have risen."
In KOSDAQ, net buying by foreigners and institutional investors continued. Foreigners bought net worthing 88.7 billion won, and institutional investors bought net worthing 45.6 billion won, while retail investors sold net worthing 122.5 billion won.
Kang Jin-hyuk, a researcher at Shinhan Investment Corp., analyzed, "The KOSPI rose over 1% as investors relieved by the U.S. Federal Reserve governor's remarks hinting at a September rate hold flowed in. Meanwhile, KOSDAQ rebounded after four trading days as buying pressure flowed into growth stocks led by robotics stocks amid improving macroeconomic conditions."
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