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KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
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Korean won strengthens against dollar
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South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
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For the midday report, please click SEOUL, March 30 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares extended gains on Thursday to close at their highest in over three weeks, as heavyweight chipmakers rallied and battery maker SK Innovation jumped by its most in more than two years.
** The Korean won strengthened, while the benchmark bond
yield rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 9.24 points, or
0.38%, at 2,453.16, marking its highest close since March 7 and
extending gains to a third session. The index has risen 4.44%
from its mid-March low.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics rose
0.80% and peer SK Hynix gained 2.19%, tracking the
Philadelphia Semiconductor Index's 3.3% jump overnight.
** SK Innovation posted its best session since
Jan. 4, 2021, surging 13.80% on a shareholder distribution plan
for the listing of its battery unit.
** "The three stocks contributed to more than 80% of the gains on the benchmark index," said analyst Lee Kyoung-min at Daishing Securities. "But, further gains were capped near the recent peak touched in early March."
** Meanwhile, a Reuters survey showed South Korea's exports
likely fell in March at the steepest pace in nearly three years.
The data is due for release on Saturday.
** Of the total 933 issues traded, 596 shares rose.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 262.6 billion
won ($202.12 million).
** The won ended onshore trade at 1,299.0 per dollar, 0.28% higher than its previous close at 1,302.7.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year
treasury bonds fell 0.01 point to 105.06.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 1.3 basis points to 3.242%, while the benchmark 10-year
yield rose by 1.4 basis points to 3.301%.
($1 = 1,299.2600 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
