Korean stocks spike 1.3% on improved investor sentiment

South Korean shares sharply increased on Monday as better-than-expected job data from the United States improved investor sentiment here, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 25.43 points, or 1.3 percent, to finish at 1,988.54. Trading volume was moderate at 332 million shares worth 4.23 trillion won ($3.68 billion), with gainers beating losers 530 to 278.

The world's largest economy announced the data on Friday that it created 287,000 new jobs in June, far more than expected and the most since October.

Analysts said investor sentiments further improved after learning that the recent decision by South Korea and the U.S. to deploy an advanced missile defense system on the peninsula would have little effect on the local market.

On Friday, Seoul and Washington announced that the countries have agreed to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile interception system in order to upgrade the allies' joint defense against North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities.

"There are still some concerns about friction between South Korea and China over trade issue but (the deployment of the THAAD) is hardly seen as a new unfavorable factor," said Lee Jae-man, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment Co.

Foreigners and institutions were net buyers, scooping up a net 271 billion won and 81.7 billion won worth of local shares, respectively. Retail investors offloaded a net 390.3 billion won.

Market behemoth Samsung Electronics rose 1.99 percent to end at 1,489,000 won, with global chipmaker SK hynix closing flat at 31,900 won.

Carmakers closed with gains, with top player Hyundai Motor adding 0.38 percent to end at 131,000 won and Kia Motors rising 0.98 percent to 41,300 won.

LG Chem, the country's top chemicals firm, jumped 3.03 percent to finish at 255,000 won, and SK Innovation, the No. 1 oil refiner, rose 1.47 percent to end at 138,500 won.

The local currency closed at 1,146.70 won against the U.S. dollar, up 15.10 won from Friday's close.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasury slipped 0.3 basis point to 1.213 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond lost 1.2 basis points to 1.236 percent. (Yonhap)