South Korean shares rise for second day as chipmakers gain

SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS

11/08/2026 07:53

KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
Korean won strengthens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
For the midday report, please click nL1N44801Z
SEOUL, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
     
** South Korean shares rose for a second straight session on Tuesday, as chipmakers advanced on strong exports, while broader market sentiment was cautious over the Middle East conflict. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 45.87 points, or 0.73%, at 6,345.53. On Monday, it rose 0.65%.
** U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday responded to Iran's conditions for a peace deal with his own demands that Iran pay compensation for people killed in wars, attacks and protests, in a rhetorical escalation likely to complicate efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
** South Korea's exports rose 45.3% in the first 10 days of this month from a year earlier on robust chip demand, data showed.
** "Exports data reaffirmed earnings momentum in chipmakers and eased worries about a peak-out in memory chip prices to some degree," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
** South Korea's Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said trading in single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds had fallen since the government had taken supplementary measures, adding that authorities would take all possible policy measures to reduce market volatility. 
** South Korea's central bank will raise interest rates further to respond to persistent inflationary pressure, the outgoing deputy chief said.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 4.13%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 0.35%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 3.54%.
** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.23% and 0.89%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 2.83%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS rose 2.55%.
** Of the total 910 traded issues, 563 shares advanced, while 309 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 44.6 billion won ($31.48 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,415.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.17% higher than its previous close at 1,418.3.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 3.6 basis points to 3.812%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 6.2 basis points to 4.303%.
     
($1 = 1,416.6000 won)

(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))