South Korean shares fall as concerns around Trump auto tariffs deepen

Kakao

27/03/2025 03:39

KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers

Korean won strengthens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

SEOUL, March 27 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares fell on Thursday as carmakers and tech shares drove markets lower on concerns about a trade war's impact on the trade-reliant economy. The won strengthened while the benchmark bond yield fell.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was down 25.49 points, or 0.96%, at 2,618.45 as of 03:20 GMT.

** U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced 25% tariffs on auto and auto parts after concluding that automotive imports continue to threaten the country's industrial base and national security.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS shed 4.28% and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS lost 3.75%. Search engine Naver 035420.KS and instant messenger Kakao 035720.KS were down 3.48% and down 2.91%, respectively.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 0.57% and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 2.34%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 0.14%.

** Of the total 939 traded issues, 328 shares advanced, while 555 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 105.2 billion won on the main board on Thursday.

** The won was quoted at 1,465.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.14% higher than its previous close of 1,467.3.

** In offshore trading, the won KRW= was quoted at 1,465.7 per dollar, up 0.1% on the day, while in the non-deliverable forward market, its one-month contract KRW1MNDFOR= was quoted at 1,462.8.

** The KOSPI has risen 9.13% so far this year and climbed 4.1% in the previous 30 trading sessions.

** The won has gained 0.5% against the dollar so far this year.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 rose 0.02 points to 106.76.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 0.3 basis points to 2.620%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 0.9 basis points to 2.841%.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)

((Cynthia.Kim@thomsonreuters.com; 822 3704 5655; Reuters Messaging: cynthia.kim.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net/))