South Korean shares fall for second week on Middle East worries

LG Energy Solution

03/04/2026 08:42

KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

Korean won strengthens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

For the midday report, please click nL1N40M00Q

SEOUL, April 3 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rebounded on Friday on hopes that supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could ease, but still posted their second straight weekly loss on uncertainty over the Iran war.

** Dozens of countries sought ways to restart crucial energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump vowed more aggressive attacks on Iran.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 143.25 points, or 2.74%, at 5,377.30.

** The index fell 1.1% this week, following a 5.9% decline in the previous week.

** It was a volatile week, with trading curbs triggered several times on sharp losses, a rebound on Wednesday and another steep drop on Thursday.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 4.37% on Friday, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 5.54%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 1.48%.

** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS rose 1.18% and fell 0.27%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 1.91%.

** Drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 1.96% and peer Celltrion 068270.KS eased 0.71%, dragging the pharmaceutical sector .KS32 1.37% lower.

** Trump set U.S. tariffs on South Korean pharmaceutical products at 15% under a trade agreement between the two countries.

** Of the total 921 traded issues, 666 shares advanced, while 226 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 808.5 billion won ($536.75 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,506.8 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.25% higher than its previous close at 1,510.6.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 2.9 basis points to 3.442%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 6.4 basis points to 3.744%.

($1 = 1,506.3000 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)

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