South Korean shares end higher led by chipmakers and builders

Published on 09/08/2025 at 04:06 am EDT

• KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
• Korean won little changed against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield falls slightly

(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose for the fifth straight session on Monday, fuelled by chipmakers as worries eased over U.S. curbs against exports to China, while builders rallied on a policy boost.
** The won erased earlier losses after the country's finance minister said currency policy would be part of a trade agreement with the United States.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 14.47 points, or 0.45%, at 3,219.59, its highest closing level since August 14.
** Samsung Electronics rose 0.86% and SK Hynix gained 1.28%, after Bloomberg News reported that the U.S. was weighing annual approvals of chip supplies to China for the two South Korean chipmakers.
** The construction sector rose 1.65% on a government policy package aimed at easing the housing shortage in the capital. Taeyoung Engineering & Construction rose 1.83% and GS Engineering & Construction gained 2.29%, while Daewoo Engineering & Construction climbed 1.59%.
** Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp ended down 0.68% and 1.59%, respectively, after a raid last week at Hyundai's U.S. manufacturing facility raised worries about business risks.
** Of the total 932 traded issues, 543 shares advanced, while 325 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 230.4 billion won ($166.04 million).
** The won was quoted little changed at 1,388.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, compared with its previous close at 1,388.4 and a session low of 1,393.7.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 1.3 basis points to 2.454%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 0.3 basis point to 2.851%. ($1 = 1,387.6300 won)
( Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Eileen Soreng )

Sumber : Reuters