KOSPI Clears 6,900 on Inflation Relief, KOSDAQ Still Left Out in the Cold

Right now the KOSPI sits at 6,904.18, up 1.33%, stretching its gain another 0.47 points since my last check-in. Relief over a soft July U.S. CPI print seems to be doing the work here, with the warmth from Wall Street's overnight session (Aug 13 close: S&P500 +0.65%, Nasdaq +0.81%) carrying straight through to Seoul. Foreigners poured in ₩2.1102 trillion on the KOSPI and institutions added ₩683.4 billion, and together they're the ones pushing the index up. KOSDAQ tells a different story, down 1.13% at 851.60 as foreigners and institutions both keep selling — though the drop has narrowed by 0.48 points since the last update. My own book is a mixed bag, Orion +2.4%, Leeno -0.9%, HD Hyundai Electric flat at -0.0%, Isu Petasys -3.2%, and with three hours left before the close I'll be watching whether this warmth ever makes it over to KOSDAQ.