FX.co ★ South Korean Shares Extend Gains

The benchmark KOSPI advanced 1.76% on Monday to close at 5,768, extending its gains from the previous session on the back of robust institutional buying and bargain hunting in large-cap names. Institutional investors were net buyers of equities worth KRW 574.66 billion, partially offsetting selling pressure from foreign investors and retail traders.

Among blue chips, Samsung Electronics added 1.16%, while SK hynix inched up 0.16%. Other major gainers included LG Energy Solution (+6.70%), Hyundai Motor (+4.33%), Samsung Biologics (+8.71%), Hanwha Aerospace (+1.69%), Kia Corporation (+4.90%), KB Financial Group (+1.75%), and Doosan Enerbility (+2.79%).

Market sentiment remained cautious, however, with investors wary of stretched AI-related valuations and the durability of infrastructure-driven demand ahead of a slate of key US technology earnings this week. Heightened competition from Chinese players in the memory-chip space further clouded the sector’s outlook. In addition, continued tensions in the Middle East and attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf kept the risk of oil-supply disruptions firmly in focus.