S.Korea shares flat as cbank holds rates; set for best month in 3 years

HYBE

30/11/2023 01:29

* 
      KOSPI little changed, foreigners net sellers
Korean won weakens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield steady
    

  
       SEOUL, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean
financial markets:
    
    ** South Korean shares were little changed on Thursday, as
the central bank kept interest rates unchanged in line with
market expectations. 
    ** The benchmark KOSPI  .KS11  was down by just 2.13 points,
or 0.08%, at 2,517.68 as of 0056 GMT. 
    ** The KOSPI was up 10.5% for the month, set to post its
biggest monthly rise since December 2020. 
    ** The Bank of Korea kept its benchmark interest rate
unchanged for a seventh consecutive meeting, as policymakers
waited to see the full effect of past rate hikes on curbing
inflation.
    ** The central bank raised its inflation forecasts for this
year and next year, while cutting its growth forecast for next
year. 
    ** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics
 005930.KS  fell 0.41%, while peer SK Hynix  000660.KS  was
unchanged. Battery maker LG Energy Solution  373220.KS  slid
0.22%.
    ** HYBE  352820.KS  dropped 2.33% after media reports that
the remaining four members of its boyband BTS will begin their
military service in mid-December. 
    ** Of the total 927 traded issues, 435 shares advanced,
while 408 declined.
    ** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 124.1 billion
won ($96.11 million) on the main board so far. 
    ** The won was quoted at 1,292.5 per dollar on the onshore
settlement platform  KRW=KFTC , 0.22% lower than its previous
close at 1,289.6. 
    ** The won has strengthened 4.6% so far this month. It is
likely to post its biggest monthly gain since November 2022. 
    ** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year
treasury bonds  KTBc1  was up 0.01 point to 104.09.
    ** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
fell by 0.4 basis point (bp) to 3.550%, while the benchmark
10-year yield rose by 0.1 bp to 3.642%.

($1 = 1,291.2400 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))