South Korean shares rally 5% as president vows more market reforms

LG Energy Solution

18/03/2026 07:42

KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers

Korean won strengthens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

For the midday report, please click nL1N40602J

SEOUL, March 18 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose 5% on Wednesday to close at their highest level in nearly three weeks, as the country's president vowed more reforms to unlock the value of the domestic market.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 284.55 points, or 5.04%, at 5,925.03, the highest since February 27.

** President Lee Jae Myung held a meeting with analysts, institutional investors and listed company officials to discuss ways to improve the country's stock market.

** During the meeting, the KOSPI triggered a sidecar trading curb.

** The Financial Services Commission said at the meeting that it would prepare specific plans to ban dual listing of parent companies and subsidiaries. It also said it would expand market-stabilising programmes if needed.

** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 7.53%, as  its co-CEO said the chip industry was entering an "unprecedented supercycle". Peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 8.87%.

** Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 0.79%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were up 4.41% and 4.66%, respectively.

** Financial groups .KS49 rose 4.04%, while securities firms .KS53 added 3.05%.

** Of the total 925 traded issues, 616 shares advanced, while 280 declined.

** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 880 billion won ($592.95 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,485.3 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.21% higher than its previous close at 1,488.4.

** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.25 point to 104.45.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 7.8 basis points to 3.256%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 3.4 basis points to 3.646%.

($1 = 1,484.1100 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)

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