South Korean shares end lower over Middle East uncertainty

LG Energy Solution

12/03/2026 06:53

KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers

Korean won weakens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield flat

For the midday report, please click nL1N40002A

SEOUL, March 12 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares fell on Thursday with chipmakers leading losses after a two-day rebound, as uncertainty remained over the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on oil prices.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 26.70 points, or 0.48%, at 5,583.25, after swinging between a 0.34% gain and a 1.47% loss during the session.

** It rose 1.4% on Wednesday after gaining 5.3% on Tuesday.

** Explosive-laden Iranian boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, setting them ablaze and killing one crew member on Wednesday, after projectiles struck four vessels in Gulf waters.

** Oil prices jumped on Thursday, with Brent futures LCOc1 rising above
$100 a barrel
.

 ** South Korea is the world's fourth-largest importer of oil, with 70% of supply from the Middle East.

** "The stock market was weighed by anxiety from global oil prices rising above $90 per barrel again," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

** South Korean central bank board member Hwang Kun-il said monetary policy should be neutral for the time being to assess heightened uncertainty over the conflict and its domestic implications.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 1.11%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 2.62%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 3.92%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.70% and up 3.09%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 0.72%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 1.93%.

** Of the total 926 traded issues, 572 shares advanced, while 322 declined.

** Foreigners net sold shares worth 2.4 trillion won ($1.62 billion).

** The won was quoted at 1,481.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.28% lower than its previous close.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 3.7 basis points to 3.288%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR was flat at 3.617%.

($1 = 1,481.1000 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)

((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))