Published on 05/16/2025 at 04:02
- 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 on Friday and logged a fifth straight week of gains, as U.S. data suggested the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates twice this year.
** The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 5.51 points, or 0.21%, at 2,626.87. For the week, the index rose 1.92%
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 0.87%, while peer SK Hynix gained 2.00%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 5.37%.
** Rate cut expectations in the U.S. often drive similar optimism in South Korea's interest rate outlook.
** U.S. producer prices posted a surprise fall in April as the cost of services declined by the most since 2009, hurt by ebbing demand for air travel and hotel accommodation.
** Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 0.47% and up 0.88%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings shed 1.00%, while drugmaker Samsung Biologics rose 0.40%.
** Of the total 936 traded issues, 316 shares advanced, while 581 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 169.4 billion won.
** The won was quoted at 1,392.0 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.43% higher than its previous close at 1,398.0.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,390.9 per dollar, up 0.4% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading, its one-month contract was quoted at 1,388.2.
** The KOSPI has risen 9.48% so far this year.
** The won has strengthened 5.8% against the dollar so far this year.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds gained 0.11 point to 107.66.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 4.8 basis points to 2.313%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 4.0 basis points to 2.690%.
(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
Sumber : Reuters