KOSPI closed up 1.62% after falling more than 2% intraday, while the Kosdaq rally triggered a buy-side program trading halt and chip shares finished slightly higher.
South Korean equities closed higher on Aug. 4 after a volatile session, with the KOSPI (South Korea's benchmark stock index) rising 1.62% to 6358.95 after falling more than 2% at one point during the day. The KOSDAQ (South Korea's junior stock market) gained 5.88%, extending gains for a third straight trading session and triggering a buy-side program trading halt (automatic curb on basket buy orders) during intraday trading. Among major tech names, SK Hynix edged up 0.63% and Samsung Electronics added 0.2%. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 closed up 0.32% at 63957.53, while Kioxia climbed more than 4%.