The benchmark KOSPI ended at the 7,200 level after a choppy session Thursday, opening higher on bargain-hunting in semiconductor shares before paring gains amid continued uncertainty in the Middle East. According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSPI closed at 7,291.91, up 0.62 percent from the previous session. The index opened 3.31 percent higher at 7,486.64 and extended gains, briefly rising above the 7,500 mark. It later gave up those gains, falling as low as 7,063.76. After fluctuating for much of the session, the index ended slightly higher. Foreign and institutional investors bought a net 1.29 trillion won ($854.7 million) and 13.75 billion won worth of KOSPI shares, respectively, while retail investors sold a net 1.33 trillion won, limiting the index's gains. Investor sentiment toward Korean semiconductor stocks improved after U.S. chip shares closed higher on bargain-hunting, helping local names open stronger. However, continued debate over whether the memory cycle had peaked, along with growing profit-taking pressure, led retail investors to sell heavily, erasing much of the market