South Korean shares end the week higher on US-Iran deal hopes

LG Energy Solution

22/05/2026 08:27

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

Korean won weakens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

For the midday report, please click nL1N41Z011

SEOUL, May 22 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose on Friday to end the week higher on optimism around U.S.-Iran peace talks.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 32.12 points, or 0.41%, at 7,847.71.

** It rose 4.7% this week, after slipping 0.1% last week.

** "Hopes grew around peace deal negotiations between the U.S. and Iran after the news that the sides were preparing a final agreement under Pakistan's mediation," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

** The U.S. and Iran stuck to opposing stances on Thursday over Tehran's uranium stockpile and controls on the Strait of Hormuz, although U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been "some good signs" in talks.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 2.34%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 0.05%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 0.62%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.65% and down 1.85%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 0.90%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 1.43%.

** Of the total 918 traded issues, 788 shares advanced, while 118 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.9 trillion won ($1.25 billion).

** The won was quoted at 1,516.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.59% lower than its previous close at 1,508.0.

** South Korea's foreign exchange officials are watching the currency market closely as recent moves in the won are excessive compared with economic fundamentals, authorities said on Friday in a text message to reporters.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.10 point to 103.28.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 1.0 basis points to 3.746%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 4.6 basis points to 4.136%.

($1 = 1,516.9000 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar)

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