Foreign, institutional investor optimism boosts Kospi

A screen in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows the Kospi closing at 3,070.0 points on Tuesday, up 33.96 points, or 1.12 percent from the previous trading day. [NEWS1]

Stocks advanced more than 1 percent Tuesday on strong foreign and institutional buying, aided by expectations of a quick global economic recovery from the pandemic. The won fell against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi rose 33.96 points, or 1.12 percent, to close at 3,070.0 points.

Trading volume was moderate at about 1 billion shares worth some 13.9 trillion won ($12.3 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 531 to 307.

Foreigners bought a net 337 billion won, while retail investors sold 604 billion won. Institutions purchased a net 254 billion won.

The Kospi got off to a strong start, taking a cue from a fresh peak on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, backed by the progress in the U.S. vaccine rollout.

Investor sentiment ran high as the world's largest economy is set to unveil an extra stimulus program later this week, which includes increased spending on infrastructure. The U.S. is one of Korea's largest trading partners, along with China.

"The local stock markets ran higher on strong foreign and institutional buying ahead of a major economic stimulus plan in the U.S.," Hana Financial Investment analyst Lee Young-gon said.

"Investors also seemed to have targeted companies with potential hikes in earnings, since the [quarterly] report season is near," he said.

Most large caps closed higher in Seoul.

Samsung Electronics added 0.74 percent to 82,200 won, and chipmaker SK hynix climbed 1.89 percent to 134,500 won.

Giant internet portal operator Naver increased 1.21 percent to 376,500 won, with its rival Kakao moving up 1.23 percent to 493,500 won.

Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics slipped 0.13 percent to 747,000 won, and Celltrion declined 2.12 percent to 323,500 won.

Chemical firm LG Chem advanced 1.13 percent to 808,000 won, and automaker Hyundai Motor gained 1.86 percent to 219,500 won.

The Kosdaq rose 3.96 points, or 0.42 percent to close at 958.06.

The local currency closed at 1,133.6 won against the dollar, up 1.9 won from the previous session's close.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on the three-year bond gained 3.6 basis points to close at 1.155 percent, and the yield on the 10-year bond added 3 basis points to close at 1.71 percent.

BY CHEA SARAH, YONHAP [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]