Korea shares up 0.21%, following U.S. higher
The benchmark Kospi rose as high as 2,103.11 at one point during the session but ended 4.34 points, or 0.21 percent, up at 2,092.40.
Trading volume was moderate at 294 million shares worth 4.69 trillion won ($4.16 billion).
“The U.S. market closed higher on chip shares as Apple rebounded, which affected the local stock market in a positive way,” said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities. “Increased hopes for an eased trade war between the United States and China were also a positive factor.”
Foreign investors were net sellers for the fourth consecutive session, unloading a net 20.7 billion won worth of shares. Retail investors picked up a net 18.2 billion won, and institutional investors bought a net 10.3 billion won worth of shares.
Large-cap shares ended mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics ended 0.56 percent lower to 44,000 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK Hynix fell 2.37 percent to 70,100 won.
Gaming shares were also losers in the session as Netmarble fell 2.39 percent to 122,500 won, and NCSoft declined 1.58 percent to 466,000 won.
Leading portal operator Naver was unchanged at 112,500 won, while rival tech company Kakao dropped 1.44 percent to 102,500 won.
Carmakers were also mixed as Hyundai Motor ended at last trading session’s close of 103,000 won, while sister company Kia Motors declined 1.50 percent to 29,500 won.
Pharmaceutical leader Celltrion rose 2.52 percent to 224,000 won.
Telecommunication shares also ended the session higher, with industry leader SK Telecom rising 4.49 percent to 279,000 won, and KT inching 0.17 percent higher to 29,950 won.
Leading steelmaker Posco closed the session up, rising 0.99 percent to 255,500 won.
The secondary Kosdaq also ended up, rising 8.80 points, or 1.29 percent, to 690.18.
The tech and bio-heavy index rose, supported by a 3.34 percent increase in the U.S. Philadelphia Semiconductor Index.
The Korean won closed at 1,128.50 won against the green back, down 0.70 from the previous session.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, ended mixed. The yield on three-year bonds rose 0.4 basis points to 1.95 percent. The return on 10-year bonds fell 1.1 basis points to 2.22 percent.
BY CHAE YUN-HWAN, YONHAP [chae.yunhwan@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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