Published on 09/03/2026 at 02:47 am EDT
* KOSPI rises, foreigners net sellers
* Korean won weakens against dollar
* South Korea benchmark bond yield falls
(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares cut early gains on Thursday, as chipmakers turned lower amid worries about high bond yields and escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed up 16.76 points, or 0.26%, at 6,579.48, after rising as much as 1.8% earlier in the session.
** During the session, the index briefly turned lower to fall as much as 1.9%.
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics ended down 0.20% and peer SK Hynix lost 1.05%, erasing early gains.
** "Risk-averse sentiment heightened across global markets with the yen suddenly strengthening sharply in afternoon trade amid bond yields already at high levels," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Fears of renewed escalation gripped the Middle East on Wednesday after the United States and Iran exchanged their biggest barrage since July, with Washington striking Iran's southern coast and Tehran firing at U.S. bases across the region.
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 5.18%, while Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 1.46% and up 2.41%, respectively.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 3.64%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics fell 1.60%.
** Of the total 909 traded issues, 425 shares advanced, while 432 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 499.6 billion won ($367.68 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,359.3 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.01% lower than its previous close at 1,359.2.
** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds gained 0.17 point to 103.12.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 4.6 basis points to 3.894%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 3.6 basis points to 4.368%.
($1 = 1,358.8000 won)
(Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)

Sumber : Reuters