The Kospi broke above 8,800 during trading Monday, driven by individual investors' net purchases and a sharp rally in Samsung Electronics. The move pushed total market capitalization above 7,000 trillion won (approximately $4.66 trillion) for the first time in history. South Korea's exports for May, released before the opening bell, also lifted investor sentiment after coming in at a record monthly high. Foreign investors continued to sell shares amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, however, capping further gains.
jun@heraldcorp.com
