South Korean stocks climb on AI optimism

Kakao

17/02/2025 04:09

* 
      KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
    

        * 
      Korean won strengthens against dollar
    

        * 
      South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
    

  
       SEOUL, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean
financial markets:
    
** South Korean shares climbed on Monday, driven by AI optimism
in tech stocks and upbeat performances in stock markets in
China, South Korea's biggest trading partner. The won
strengthened, and the benchmark bond yield fell. 
** The benchmark KOSPI  .KS11  was up 19.03 points, or 0.73%, at
2,610.08, as of 03:31 GMT. 
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics
 005930.KS  rose 0.3% and peer SK Hynix  000660.KS  gained 1.67%
while battery maker LG Energy Solution  373220.KS  climbed
0.42%.
** Shares of Tenent  0700.HK  jump as much as 7.8% to HK$512,
their highest levels since July 2021, and on course for a second
session of gains. 
** Hyundai Motor  005380.KS  shed 2.91% and sister automaker Kia
Corp  000270.KS  lost 1.26%, while search engine Naver
 035420.KS  and instant messenger Kakao  035720.KS  were down
0.45% and up 0.90%, respectively.
** Of the total 940 traded issues, 603 shares advanced, while
282 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 162.8 billion won
on the main board on Monday.
** The won was quoted at 1,440.7 per dollar on the onshore
settlement platform  KRW=KFTC , 0.08% higher than its previous
close at 1,441.9.
** In offshore trading, the won  KRW=  was quoted at 1,440.4 per
dollar, down 0.1% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward
trading its one-month contract  KRW1MNDFOR=  was quoted at
1,438.2.
** The KOSPI has risen 8.78% so far this year, and gained 6.6%
in the previous 30 trading sessions.
** The won has gained 2.2% against the dollar so far this year.
** In money and debt markets, March futures on three-year
treasury bonds  KTBc1  rose 0.02 point to 106.74.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield
 KR3YT=RR  fell by 0.6 basis points to 2.605%, while the
benchmark 10-year yield  KR10YT=RR  dropped 0.3 basis points to
2.843%.

 (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
 ((Cynthia.Kim@thomsonreuters.com; 822 3704 5655; Reuters
Messaging: cynthia.kim.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))