Published on 12/08/2025 at 02:09 am EST
- KOSPI rises, foreigners net buyers
- Korean won strengthens against dollar
- South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares climbed on Monday as investors looked ahead to an anticipated U.S. Federal Reserve interest rate cut later this week. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield also moved higher.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 54.80 points, or 1.34%, at 4,154.85.
** Markets are pricing in an 84% chance of a quarter-point cut at the U.S. Fed's meeting this week.
** The United States, which is South Korea's second-largest trading partner, plays a significant role in shaping the country's economic outlook.
** When the Fed cuts rates, it often boosts global risk appetite. Lower U.S. rates can make riskier assets, such as equities in emerging or Asian markets, more attractive, prompting investors to move money into markets such as South Korea.
** Among index heavyweights, South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 1.01%, while peer SK Hynix gained 6.07%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed nearly 6%.
** Shares of Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 0.16% and 1.62%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 2.57%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics fell 0.73%.
** Meanwhile, South Korea's presidential adviser said on Sunday that the country has the means to respond to the won's declines.
** Of the total 927 traded issues, 315 shares advanced, while 553 declined.
** South Korea's LG Energy Solution said in a regulatory filing on Monday it won a $1.4 billion order from Mercedes-Benz MBGn.DE to supply electric vehicle batteries.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 321.3 billion won.
** The won was quoted at 1,466.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.44% higher than its previous close at 1,473.3.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,466.2 per dollar, up 0.5% on the day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,463.9.
** The KOSPI has risen 73.16% so far this year.
** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds lost 0.12 point to 105.47.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose 4.4 basis points to 3.035%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose 1.9 basis points to 3.394%. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
Sumber : Reuters