KOSPI's daily turnover tops $26.4 billion for 1st time amid stock rally
Seoul, May 25
Average daily transactions in South Korea's benchmark index surpassed 40 trillion won for the first time this month amid a record-breaking market rally, bourse data showed on Monday.
The daily turnover of the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) averaged 48.05 trillion won during the first 22 days of May, according to the data from the Korea Exchange (KRX).
The figure marked the highest monthly average on record, surpassing the previous high of 32.23 trillion won set in February.
The increase came as the KOSPI extended its rally to record highs this month.
The index topped the 7,000-point mark for the first time on May 6 and briefly surpassed 8,000 during intraday trading on May 15. After volatile trading, the KOSPI closed at 7,847.71 on Friday, up 19 percent from the end of April.
Heavy buying of market bellwethers, including Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., drove the surge in turnover.
Combined daily trading value for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix averaged 20.57 trillion won over the cited period, accounting for 43 percent of the KOSPI's total daily turnover.
"Despite concerns over an economic slowdown, investors are concentrating capital on artificial intelligence (AI)-related industries where growth prospects remain strong," said Kang Dae-seung, an analyst at SK Securities. "This concentration has intensified since 2023, when the AI investment rally began."
Meanwhile, South Korea's manufacturing confidence has rebounded into positive territory for the first time in three months despite prolonged tensions in the Middle East, a poll showed on Monday.
The professional survey index (PSI) for the manufacturing sector's business outlook rose to 107 for June from 95 for May, according to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade.
A PSI reading above 100 means optimists outnumber pessimists, while a figure below the benchmark means the opposite.
The PSI outlook had remained below the 100 mark for April and May before rebounding for June.
By sector, the outlook for the chip industry came to 156 for June, up from 150 estimated for this month.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an Indian investor, I'm always watching global markets. South Korea's manufacturing confidence bouncing back is good news for the global supply chain. We import a lot of chips and electronics from them. But honestly, the concentration in just two stocks feels risky—what if AI hype cools down? Just like our IT bubble in 2000. Hope regulators there are keeping an eye.
Wah! 48 trillion won in daily turnover—that's roughly ₹2.8 lakh crore! 🚀 Our NSE averages around ₹70,000 crore daily. Korea's market depth is amazing. But I wonder, are retail investors piling in after the rally or is it institutions? In India, when markets hit new highs, FIIs often start selling. Let's see how this plays out for them.
Impressive numbers from South Korea. That 43% concentration in Samsung and SK hynix is very reminiscent of the US market where the top 7 tech stocks dominate the S&P 500. Global investors seem to be betting big on AI everywhere. Good to see manufacturing confidence recovering—hopefully it's sustainable and not just a short-term bounce.
I've been tracking KOSPI for my MBA project. The PSI for chip industry at 156 is mind-blowing! India's electronics manufacturing is growing but we're nowhere near this. South Korea is proof that focused industrial policy and R&D investment pay off. We need to speed up our semiconductor mission. But one thing: should we be worried about global over-reliance on AI stocks? 🤔
R We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.