A massive screen on April 21 shows the main stock price index KOSPI breaking its record high with 6,388.47 at the trading room of Woori Bank headquarters in Seoul's Jung-gu District. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Seon Ah

The main stock price index KOSPI has broken a record high for the second time in about two months.

The Korea Exchange on April 21 said the market's closing of 6,388.47 broke both the previous intraday and closing marks of 6,307.27 on Feb. 26. Market capitalization also hit an all-time high of KRW 5,236 trillion.

Foreign and institutional investors led the bull market, with net buying of KRW 1.3 trillion by the former and KRW 700 billion by the latter. Foreign investors since early this month have supported supply and demand with net purchases worth KRW 5.4 trillion.

Dominating net buying were electrical and electronics (KRW 5.6 trillion), chemicals (KRW 1.1 trillion), and machinery and equipment (KRW 500 billion).

The stock rebound was attributed to anticipated improvement in semiconductors. Growing global demand for artificial intelligence memory chips and a positive outlook for first-quarter earnings boosted investor sentiment.

KOSPI plunged last month because of the U.S.-Iran conflict but has rapidly recovered this month to maintain an upward trend.

The index has led Group of 20 economies this month by expanding 26.4%, and its cumulative growth this year also exceeds 50%, showing strength compared to major economies.

sofiakim218@korea.kr