▲ Financial data is displayed on a screen at Hana Bank's dealing room in central Seoul on Sept. 23, 2026. (Yonhap)

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES with more details from 7th para; CHANGES photo)

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares extended their winning streak to a fourth session Wednesday as investors scooped up major semiconductor stocks, tracking the Nasdaq Composite's back-to-back record closes. The local currency gained ground against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 63.01 points, or 1.21 percent, to end the day's regular trading session at 7,080.92.

After opening nearly 2 percent higher, the KOSPI pared its earlier gains as foreign and individual investors sold tech heavyweights to lock in profits.

On Tuesday (local time), U.S. stocks ended mixed, led by a persistent rally in technology shares that propelled the Nasdaq Composite 0.45 percent higher to another record close. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.36 percent, while the S&P 500 declined 0.06 percent.

Investor sentiment improved sharply, backed by an extended rally in stocks related to artificial intelligence (AI), as well as hopes for easing tensions between the United States and Iran.

Diplomatic efforts are under way to end the Middle East standoff, which helped to lower global oil prices.

"With the South Korean stock market closed for the Chuseok holiday, investors adopted a wait-and-see stance ahead of key events," Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, said. The market will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday.

"Foreign investors' net selling, coupled with institutional outflows, capped gains in the index," he added.

Trade volume was light at 217.4 million shares worth 20.8 trillion won (US$15.3 billion), with decliners outnumbering advancers 546 to 310.

Individuals and foreigners sold a net 1.4 trillion won and 51 billion won, respectively, while institutions scooped up 31.6 billion won.

Market heavyweights closed mixed.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics went up 3.25 percent to 285,500 won, while its chip rival SK hynix increased 1.2 percent to 1.86 million won after opening higher.

SK Square, the parent company of SK hynix, jumped 5.03 percent to 1.19 million won.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,358.4 won per U.S. dollar as of 3:30 p.m., up 0.2 won from the previous stock market session's close.

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