South Korean shares closed higher for a fourth consecutive session on investors focused on heavyweight memory-chip makers. The gains pushed the country's primary index into a technical bull market as renewed global demand for AI-related stocks led to a strong rebound from July's historic sell-off.
Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) and SK Hynix (KRX:000660) added 5% and 6%, respectively, at the end of the trading day.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, increased by 234.3 points, or 3.6%, to close at 6,813.34. The Kosdaq also rose by 2.46 points, or 0.3%, to close at 861.37.
In economic news, South Korea will increase policy support for real estate projects to 47.8 trillion won from 26.3 trillion won, as it looks to improve housing supply and promote market stability, according to a Thursday release from the Financial Services Commission.
The country looks to start construction of 230,000 houses in the metropolitan area over the next five years, on top of an earlier goal of 1.35 million houses.
In corporate news, Doosan Fuel Cell (KRX:336260) secured four fuel cell system supply and service contracts from YH Power 1 and YH Power 2, according to several filings with the Korea Exchange on Thursday.
The fuel cell system supply contract and a long-term service agreement (LTSA) for fuel cell systems with YH Power 1 are valued at 31 billion won and 28.8 billion won, respectively. The contract for the fuel cell system supply is valid till March 31, 2028, and the LTSA is valid till March 31, 2048, the filing said.
The fuel cell system supply contract and the LTSA for fuel cell systems with YH Power 2 are valued at 29.6 billion won and 27.5 billion won, respectively. The contract for the fuel cell system supply is valid till March 31, 2028, and the LTSA is valid till March 31, 2048, it said.
Shares of Doosan Fuel Cell added over 5% at market close.