South Korean shares gain over 2% as new data raises US rate-cut bets

Published on 11/26/2025 at 02:08 am EST

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

(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose more than 2% on Wednesday, as investor sentiment improved on new U.S. economic data supporting bets for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next month.
** The won trimmed gains after a highly anticipated press conference by the South Korean finance minister fell short of market expectations for policy efforts to stabilise the currency.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 103.09 points, or 2.67%, at 3,960.87.
** Wall Street extended its rally on Tuesday as a spate of economic data appeared to support the case for the Fed to implement its third and final rate cut of the year in December.
** South Korea's ruling Democratic Party introduced a bill on Wednesday to establish a special fund to finance $350 billion of investment in the U.S. committed under a deal with Washington to cut U.S. tariffs on its exports.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 3.52%, while peer SK Hynix gained 0.96%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 5.32%.
** Of the total 930 traded issues, 773 shares advanced, while 125 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 516.3 billion won ($351.89 million).
** The won was quoted 0.25% higher at 1,465.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, compared with a session high of 1,457.0.
** South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol vowed to stabilise a weak won at a rare press conference on the currency market, but stopped short of introducing specific policy measures to address the situation.
** "The dollar-won rate rebounded on views that it lacked specific measures, but authorities' willingness to intervene is a positive factor," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyoung-min said.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell 1.1 basis points to 2.896%, while the benchmark 10-year yield declined 1.3 bps to 3.252%. ($1 = 1,467.2300 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

Sumber : Reuters