South Korean shares close at 2-month high as chipmakers jump

Samsung Electronics

23/09/2026 07:55

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
Korean won weakens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
For the midday report, please click nL4N45F04R
SEOUL, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares rose on Wednesday for a fourth consecutive session to close at a two-month high, led by gains in chipmakers on an AI rally. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 63.01 points, or 0.90%, at 7,080.92, its highest closing level since July 23. 
** South Korean financial markets will be closed on Thursday and Friday for Chuseok holidays. 
** The index ended the week 2.7% higher, after falling 0.2% last week. 
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 3.25% and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 1.20%, tracking an overnight rally in US peers. 
** During the session, the index erased early gains of 1.9% and briefly turned lower on caution ahead of holidays, before rebounding. 
** "There was profit-taking pressure from retail and foreign investors ahead of holidays, but AI semiconductor momentum remained strong," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.     
** The Nasdaq .IXIC notched a record-high close on Tuesday, lifted by Micron Technology MU.O and other AI-related stocks, while the S&P 500 .SPX hovered just below a record high as oil prices traded around $100 per barrel. .N
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 0.29%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.94% and 2.62%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 1.89%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 1.80%.
** Of the total 912 traded issues, 311 shares advanced, while 548 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 510.1 billion won ($375.89 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,358.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.14% lower than its previous close at 1,356.5.
** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 gained 0.08 point to 102.37.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR edged up 0.2 basis points to 4.010%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 6.7 basis points to 4.397%.

($1 = 1,357.0400 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar)
 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))