South Korean stocks ended at a fresh all-time high Friday on bargain hunting. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 16.00 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 2,496.63. Trade volume was moderate at 504.56 million shares worth 6.25 trillion won ($5.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 554 to 245.
Foreigners bought 96 billion won worth of stocks, offsetting the same value of stocks sold by institutions.
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(Yonhap) |
Tech and steel stocks led the gains, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. rising 1.3 percent to 2,654,000 won and leading steelmaker POSCO advancing 2.87 percent to 341,000 won.
In contrast, top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. fell 0.63 percent to 158,500 won. Cosmetics giant AmorePacific Corp. slid 1.10 percent to 315,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,130.50 won against the US dollar, down 5.90 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys fell 1.8 basis points to 2.164 percent and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds declined 0.7 basis point to 2.418 percent. (Yonhap)
