Won strengthens; chip shares lift KOSPI above 5,100

The KOSPI rose 0.82% to 5,101.29 at 13:57 KST on Monday, Nov. 9, led by gains in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

Hana Bank’s USD/KRW reference quote, carried by Naver Pay Securities, was 1,353.80 at 13:57 KST, 9.70 won below the Nov. 6 reference reading of 1,363.50. The 0.71% decline in the dollar quote indicates a stronger won. This comparison uses bank reference rates, rather than daytime onshore trading closes.

Chip gains and battery losses

At 13:57 KST, the KOSDAQ was up 1.15% at 651.69. Both indices remained open for trading.

The chipmakers’ gains followed steep losses on Nov. 6. At 13:57:21 KST, SK hynix traded 3.09% higher at 1,167,000 won and Samsung Electronics rose 1.91% to 192,300 won. In the previous regular session, they had fallen 10.44% and 6.35%, respectively.

Battery stocks moved lower. LG Energy Solution fell 4.00% to 324,000 won at 13:57:18 KST. At 13:57:20 KST, Samsung SDI was down 7.91% at 431,000 won and Kia lost 2.29% to 98,000 won.

Friday’s selling had cut the KOSPI by 6.02% to a regular-session close of 5,059.69. The KOSDAQ had lost 5.03% to 644.27.

Foreign investors sold a net 1,648,774 SK hynix shares on Nov. 6, while institutions bought a net 750,574 shares, according to Naver’s investor-trading data. Those figures refer to the completed Friday session.

Currency flows and economic data

In its Nov. 6 FX Check-up, Shinhan Securities argued that AI-related trade payments and equity flows were important drivers of the won. The brokerage projected USD/KRW near 1,300 in the first half of 2027, citing semiconductor-related currency conversions.

South Korea recorded a September current-account surplus of $61.46 billion, according to preliminary Bank of Korea data released on Nov. 5.

The U.S. employment report released on Nov. 6 showed October payroll growth of 165,000 and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.

U.S. October consumer price data are scheduled for release at 22:30 KST on Nov. 10, according to the BLS calendar.