South Korean shares slip as chip stocks hold firm amid MidEast conflict

SK hynix

10/09/2026 07:53

KOSPI falls, foreigners net sellers
Korean won strengthens against dollar
South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
For the midday report, please click nL1N452015
SEOUL, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares ended slightly lower on Thursday, as chip stocks held their ground even as investors awaited key U.S. inflation data due later this week and assessed the inflationary impact of the widening Middle East conflict. 
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed down 16.77 points, or 0.24%, at 7,034.93, after falling as much as 2.2%. 
** The index briefly turned higher during the session, as chipmakers cut losses.
** "The semiconductor sector held up amid complex macroeconomic conditions. The focus is on U.S. inflation data and the Federal Reserve's policy meeting (next week)," said Kim Joon-young, analyst at iM Securities.  
** Brent crude breached $100 a barrel after Iran and U.S. struck tankers in the biggest wave of attacks on shipping since the war began in February.
** A Bank of Korea board member said the central bank would assess external and internal policy conditions, including the impact of the previous two rate hikes, to determine the timing and pace of further tightening.    
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS fell 0.19%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS lost 0.16%.
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 1.62%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were up 0.26% and 0.16%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS added 0.59%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 2%.
** Of the total 915 traded issues, 421 shares advanced, while 440 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 962.0 billion won ($718.78 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,339.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.07% higher than its previous close at 1,340.2.
** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds KTBc1 lost 0.08 point to 102.96.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR rose by 2.4 basis points to 3.930%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR rose by 6.2 basis points to 4.452%.
     
($1 = 1,338.3800 won)

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