South Korean shares end lower as foreigners book profits

Hyundai Motor Co

01/07/2026 07:52

KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
Korean won weakens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
For the midday report, please click nL1N433020

    SEOUL, July 1 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares fell more than 2% on Wednesday, as overseas investors booked profits after a blistering second quarter, even as the country's exports beat forecasts on record chip sales. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 173.07 points, or 2.04%, at 8,303.41.
** The index rose 68% in the June quarter, the steepest since 1998. It has risen 97.04% so far this year.
** South Korea's exports expanded at the strongest pace in nearly half a century last month, smashing forecasts, on a surge in chip sales propelled by the global boom in AI investment.
** "The index cut losses on strong exports but still ended the session lower on continued profit booking by foreign investors," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. 
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 5.84%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 3.40%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 3.87%.
** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.52% and up 2.54%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 0.63%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 0.36%.
** Of the total 918 traded issues, 700 shares advanced, while 193 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.7 trillion won ($1.09 billion). 
** The won was quoted at 1,554.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.35% lower than its previous close at 1,549.5.
** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.33 point to 102.96.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 8.1 basis points to 3.788%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 9.6 basis points to 4.196%.
($1 = 1,556.3000 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)
((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))