South Korean shares rise but pare gains on foreign selling over Mideast worry

Taste . Gourmet

11/03/2026 06:59

KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers

Korean won strengthens against dollar

South Korea benchmark bond yield falls

For the midday report, please click nL1N3ZZ01S

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

** South Korean shares rose for a second straight day on Wednesday, but gave up early gains as uncertainty in the Middle East kept investors cautious and triggered foreign selling.

** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 closed up 77.36 points, or 1.4%, at 5,609.95, after rising as much as 3.9% during the day. It had ended Tuesday 5.3% higher.

** "... Market sentiment was upbeat at first, but the index cut gains as foreigners turned net sellers," said Park Kwang-nam, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.

** "The market reacted sensitively to position changes amid thin trading, as there still are fears over persistent uncertainty."

** The market opened higher after a report that the International Energy Agency had proposed a record release of oil reserves to rein in crude prices inflated by the Iran war.

** South Korea is taking part in IEA-led discussions but has yet to decide its stance, a spokesperson for the country's industry ministry said.

** Separately, the finance minister said the government will consider all available policy measures, including drafting an extra budget, to minimise any domestic impact from the crisis.

** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 1.12% and peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 1.81%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS added 0.68%.

** Of the total 927 traded issues, 703 advanced and 200 declined.

** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 257.3 billion won ($175.7 million).

** The won was quoted at 1,466.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform KRW=KFTC, 0.07% firmer than Tuesday's close of 1,467.5.

** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield KR3YT=RR fell 3.4 basis points to 3.248%, while the benchmark 10-year yield KR10YT=RR shed 1.9 basis points to 3.610%.

($1 = 1,464.7000 won)

 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Sumana Nandy)

 ((jihoon.lee@thomsonreuters.com;))