South Korea's KOSPI takes a breather from new peak

LG Energy Solution

07/05/2026 03:11

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

Korean won weakens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

SEOUL, May 7 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares were mixed on Thursday, taking a breather after breaching the historic 7,500-mark for the first time at the open. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was up 3.02 points, or 0.04%, at 7,387.58 as of 01:53 GMT, after rising as high as 7,532.88 earlier in the day.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 0.38%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 0.06%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 1.66%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were up 4.64% and up 2.65%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 2.77%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 0.07%.

** Citi Research on Thursday upgraded its Kospi target to 8,500 from 7,000 previously, reflecting solid memory earnings upside as well as strong fiscal stimulus with the Korean government’s push for corporate value enhancement.

** Of the total 895 traded issues, 376 shares advanced, while 485 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 4,033.2 billion won ($2.78 billion).

** The won was quoted at 1,449.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.03% lower than its previous close at 1,449.4.

** In offshore trading, the won KRW= was quoted at 1,448.7 per dollar, down 0.3% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading, its one-month contract KRW1MNDFOR= was quoted at 1,447.1.

** The KOSPI has risen 75.30% so far this year.

** The won has weakened 0.7% against the dollar so far this year.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.22 point to 103.80.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 6.0 basis points to 3.534%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 5.7 basis points to 3.878%.

($1 = 1,448.2000 won)

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

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