SEOUL — South Korea's benchmark Kospi index closed higher Monday, snapping a two-session losing streak, as bargain hunters moved into semiconductor-related shares following a record-setting rally on Wall Street, even as foreign investors continued heavy selling and the won weakened against the dollar.

The Kospi rose 40.89 points, or 0.65%, to close at 6,299.66 after a volatile session that saw the index swing between strong early gains and a more subdued afternoon. The index opened 0.76% higher at 6,306.33 and briefly surged as much as 2.16% in early trading before paring most of those gains as the day wore on, ultimately settling just shy of the psychologically significant 6,300 level.

The secondary Kosdaq market fared considerably better, jumping 6.97% to close at 854.47, a gain of 55.66 points, as smaller technology and growth-oriented stocks attracted heavy buying interest.

Trading volume on the main board was moderate, with 629.9 million shares changing hands worth a combined 29.09 trillion won, or roughly $20.5 billion. Advancing stocks outnumbered decliners by a wide margin of 695 to 183, suggesting broad-based buying even as the index's overall gain remained modest relative to the number of stocks that moved higher.

Foreign investors extended their selling streak, offloading a net 1.48 trillion won worth of shares during the session. Institutional investors and retail traders both........

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