South Korean shares end higher, led by chipmaker SK Hynix, strong exports

Samsung Electronics Co

Yesterday 08:14

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
Korean won weakens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
For the midday report, please click nL1N42J02I

    SEOUL, June 11 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

** South Korean shares closed higher on Thursday as robust export data and gains in gains in chipmaker SK Hynix overshadowed worries over fresh escalations in the Middle East conflict. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 33.13 points, or 0.43%, at 7,763.95. The index swung between gains and losses, after falling as much as 4.4% earlier. 
** The United States launched new strikes against multiple targets overnight in Iran, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, as President Donald Trump vowed even more attacks if no peace deal is secured.
** Meanwhile, South Korea's exports in the first 10 days of this month surged 85.9% from a year earlier on strong chip sales, data showed.    
** Robust export data supported investor sentiment and helped lift the stock market, said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities. 
** SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 2.59%, but peer chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 1.16%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 0.26%.
** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 0.83% and 2.32%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 1.38%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 0.92%.
** Of the total 921 traded issues, 576 shares advanced, while 320 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.5 trillion won ($980.20 million). 
** The won was quoted at 1,528.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.57% lower than its previous close at 1,520.2.
** Separately, South Korea's vice finance minister asked exporting companies to help improve demand and supply conditions in the foreign exchange market to ease volatility.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.03 point to 103.10.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 1.3 basis points to 3.903%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 1.1 bps to 4.287%.

($1 = 1,530.3000 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sonia Cheema)
 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))