South Korean shares end higher, score first weekly gain in three

LG Energy Solution

20/03/2026 07:55

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

Korean won weakens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

For the midday report, please click nL1N40803M

SEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

     ** South Korean shares climbed on Friday and logged their first weekly gain in three, as bargain hunting in technology stocks outweighed concerns over the Iran conflict. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 17.98 points, or 0.31%, at 5,781.20. The index has climbed 5.5% for the week and 37.18% this year so far.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 0.55%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 0.59%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 1.21%.

** Shares of Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 0.96% and 1.17%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 1.63%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 1.01%.

** Of the total 927 traded issues, 745 shares advanced, while 159 declined.

** South Korean authorities said on Friday that Iranian attacks on Qatar's energy facilities raise uncertainty, but downplayed concerns about disruption to its liquefied natural gas supply, citing alternative sources.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 2,669.9 billion won. ** The won was quoted at 1,500.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.35% lower than its previous close at 1,495.0.

** In offshore trading, the won KRW= was quoted at 1,494.3 per dollar, down 0.3% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract KRW1MNDFOR= was quoted at 1,493.3. ** The won has weakened 4.0% against the dollar so far this year. ** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.27 point to 103.93.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose 9.2 basis points to 3.418%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell 3.6 basis points to 3.658%.

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

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