South Korean stocks edge down in thin holiday trade

SEOUL: Round-up of South Korean financial markets:

South Korean stocks open higher after US inflation data

– South Korean shares fell on Tuesday in relatively thin holiday trading after consumer sentiment data dipped to the worst in two years. The won weakened, while the benchmark bond yield rose.

• The blue-chip KOSPI fell 5.93 points, or 0.24%, to 2,436.08 as of 01:00 GMT.

• Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics rose 0.56% and peer SK Hynix gained 0.18%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 0.97%.

• South Korea’s consumer sentiment dropped sharply this month to hit the weakest level in about two years on growing worries of political uncertainty following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

• Hyundai Motor shed 0.70% and sister automaker Kia lost 0.99%. Search engine Naver and instant messenger Kakao were unchanged and down 0.13%, respectively.

• Of the total 939 traded issues, 411 advanced and 458 declined.

• Foreigners net sold shares worth 113.5 billion won ($78 million) on the main board on the day.

• The won was quoted at 1,453.2 per US dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.16% lower than Monday’s close at 1,450.9.

• In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,453.2 per dollar, down 0.1%, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,451.0.

• The KOSPI has fallen 8.26% so far this year, losing 3.5% in the last 30 sessions.

• The won has lost 11.4% against the dollar so far this year.

• In the money and debt markets, March futures on three-year treasury bonds fell 0.05 point to 106.70.

• The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 0.7 basis points to 2.622%, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose by 2.7 basis points to 2.873%.