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KOSPI flat, foreigners net buyers
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Korean won weakens against dollar
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South Korea benchmark bond yield flat
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For the midday report, please click SEOUL, April 12 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares ended little changed on Wednesday, as
investors remained cautious ahead of U.S. inflation data. The
won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield was flat.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 2.78 points, or
0.11%, to 2,550.64, just enough to extend its rising streak to a
fourth straight session and hit a fresh 10-month high.
** "Stocks traded on individual issues, while there was
caution ahead of U.S. inflation data, which will again test the
market's monetary policy expectations," said Lee Kyoung-min,
analyst at Daishin Securities.
** U.S. inflation likely slowed in March to 5.2% from 6.0%
in February , in annual terms, according to a Reuters
survey. The data is due to be released later on Wednesday.
** Technology giant Samsung Electronics Co Ltd rose 0.15%, but peer SK Hynix Inc lost 1.63% and
battery maker LG Energy Solution Ltd dropped 3.28%.
** Hyundai Motor Co jumped 3.18%, sister
automaker Kia Corp gained 1.29%, and auto-parts
makers Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd climbed 4.98%.
** Hyundai Motor Group said it would invest 24 trillion won ($18.14 billion) in the electric vehicle industry through 2030.
** POSCO Holdings Inc rose 2.39% as the company
agreed with Japanese automaker Honda for expanded cooperation in
steel and battery materials.
** LG Corp rallied 9.48% as the company reported
in a regulatory filing that UK-based Silchester International
Investors acquired 5.02% of its shares.
** LG Electronics Inc , LG Display Co Ltd and LG Innotek Co Ltd added 1.78%, 3.02% and 2.92%, respectively.
** Of the total 928 issues traded, 638 shares rose.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 212.8 billion
won.
** The won ended onshore trade 0.26% lower at
1,325.7 per dollar.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 0.2 basis point (bp) to 3.236%, while the benchmark
10-year yield rose by 0.3 bp to 3.266%.
($1 = 1,326.0200 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
