South Korean shares notch record close as chipmakers jump

Samsung Biologics Co

17/06/2026 07:50

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
Korean won weakens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
For the midday report, please click nL1N42P016

    SEOUL, June 17 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares notched a record high close on Wednesday, as chipmakers jumped on easing worries over oil prices and inflation. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 ended up 137.64 points, or 1.58%, at 8,864.24, after falling as much as 1.4% earlier in the session over Wall Street's overnight losses in tech stocks.  
** Details began to emerge on Tuesday of the U.S. and Iran's interim agreement to end the war in the Middle East, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying it will rule out a nuclear weapon for Tehran and a U.S. official saying it allows Iran to sell oil upon signing.    
** The Bank of Korea governor vowed to adjust policy to curb inflation, as the central bank said price pressures were expected to keep inflation above its target through next year, even with progress toward ending the U.S. war with Iran.  
** South Korea's financial market watchdog said authorities would monitor risk factors more closely in response to increased market volatility.  
** "There was risk-on sentiment after the deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the war and also caution before the Federal Reserve's policy meeting (on Wednesday)," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.      
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 1.02%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 5.84% to an all-time high. 
** Of the total 917 traded issues, 349 shares advanced, while 526 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 993.1 billion won ($656.99 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,513.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.34% lower than its previous close at 1,508.3.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 0.3 basis points to 3.723%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 3.1 basis points to 4.077%.
($1 = 1,511.6000 won)

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