S.Korean shares end higher as Samsung Electronics forecast earnings above estimate

Kakao

08/04/2025 09:20

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

Korean won weakens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

For the midday report, please click nL2N3QM031

SEOUL, April 8 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares ended slightly higher on Tuesday, led by gains in heavyweight chipmakers after Samsung Electronics forecasted better-than-expected earnings in the first quarter.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 6.03 points, or 0.26%, at 2,334.23.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 0.56% and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 2.85%, but battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 1.55%.

** Samsung Electronics flagged a much smaller-than-feared 0.2% fall in first-quarter operating profit, boosted by solid memory chip sales and strong smartphone demand, partly driven by customers concerned about U.S. tariffs.

** South Korea's trade minister said that the government has been considering packages of measures to increase U.S. imports, as he headed to Washington to negotiate over U.S. tariffs.

** Hanwha Aerospace 012450.KS jumped 8.72% after the defence firm cut the size of a planned fundraising by one-third to ensure the success of the financing, and after investor and regulatory pushback.

** Of the total 938 traded issues, 548 shares advanced, while 343 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 642.5 billion won ($434.87 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,476.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.31% lower than its previous close at 1,472.0.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 fell 0.06 point to 107.42.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 1.7 basis points to 2.422%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 5.2 basis points to 2.703%.

($1 = 1,477.4700 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee)

 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))