South Korean shares dip as higher oil prices fuel slowdown concerns

LG Energy Solution

30/04/2026 04:27

KOSPI falls, foreigners net buyers

Korean won strengthens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

SEOUL, April 30 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

     ** South Korean shares fell on Thursday, taking a breather from a record rally over the past week, as oil prices climbed to four-year highs, adding to slowdown concerns linked to the Iran war. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield rose.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was down 19.60 points, or 0.29%, at 6,671.30, as of 02:59 GMT.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 0.44%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 1.16%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 2.11%.

** Oil prices surged more than 6% on Wednesday to settle at their highest point in weeks, as deadlocked U.S.-Iran negotiations made investors more concerned about prolonged disruptions to Middle Eastern supply.

** Samsung Electronics on Thursday reported record quarterly profit after an eightfold jump in earnings, and said it expects the momentum to continue as clients spend aggressively on AI infrastructure and drive up prices of its memory chips.

** Shares of Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 3.24% and 2.36%, respectively.

** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 1.60%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS was flat. ** Of the total 890 traded issues, 229 shares advanced, while 619 declined. ** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 224.4 billion won. ** The won was quoted at 1,486.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.11% higher than its previous close at 1,488.5. ** The KOSPI has risen 58.31% so far this year. ** The won has weakened 3.2% against the dollar so far this year. ** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.17 point to 103.58. ** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose 4.6 basis points to 3.580%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose 4.6 basis points to 3.888%.

 (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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