South Korean shares little changed as central bank holds rates

Samsung Electronics Co

28/05/2026 02:38

KOSPI little changed
Korean won weakens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

    SEOUL, May 28 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
     
** South Korean shares were little changed on Thursday, as the central bank held interest rates steady in line with market expectations, with investors' focus on the governor's press conference for clues on the future policy path. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was down by just 17.80 points, or 0.22%, at 8,210.90 as of 0120 GMT, after closing at a record on Wednesday.
** The Bank of Korea kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged to gauge whether the Iran war will damp growth, even as a slumping won and stubborn inflation pressure policymakers to tighten monetary policy in the coming months.
** The central bank revised up this year's inflation estimate to 2.7% from the 2.2% projected before the Iran war started. It raised this year's growth forecast to 2.6% from 2.0% previously.
** Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun Song will hold a press conference at 0210 GMT. 
** South Korean exports likely rose for a 12th straight month in May, as a global boom in AI investment drove a surge in chip sales, a Reuters poll showed.     
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 1.14%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 1.38%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS climbed 12.65%.
** Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were up 2.50% and up 1.52%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 0.30%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 0.43%.
** Of the total 918 traded issues, 173 shares advanced, while 708 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 2 trillion won ($1.33 billion). 
** The won was quoted at 1,503.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.30% lower than its previous close at 1,499.4.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell by 0.7 basis points to 3.693%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR fell by 1.8 basis points to 4.087%.
     
($1 = 1,503.6900 won)

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