South Korean shares end lower after hitting 3-week high as retail investors take profit

SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS

08/09/2026 08:06

KOSPI falls, foreigners net buyers
Korean won strengthens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
For the midday report, please click nL1N450023
SEOUL, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares ended lower after hitting a three-week high on Tuesday, as retail investors booked profits. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 40.87 points, or 0.58%, at 6,954.52, after three consecutive sessions of gains. 
** Earlier in the session, it rose as much as 2.5% to the highest level since August 18. 
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS slipped 0.19%, reversing an earlier gain of more than 3%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS closed up 0.56%, after rising as much as 6% earlier.
** "The KOSPI turned lower on profit-taking by retail investors amid no major market-moving factor," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities. 
** South Korea's economy grew 0.6% in the second quarter from the preceding three months, revised central bank data showed, unchanged from the advance estimate in late July.     
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 3.86%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 2.04% and down 2.34%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 2.09%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 1.77%.
** Of the total 910 traded issues, 231 shares advanced, while 634 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 631.6 billion won ($469.71 million), while retail investors sold 3 trillion won. 
** The won was quoted at 1,345.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.08% higher than its previous close at 1,346.7.
** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 were unchanged at 103.12.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 0.3 basis points to 3.901%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 2.0 basis points to 4.401%.
     
($1 = 1,344.6700 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)
((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))