South Korean Shares Close Higher
The benchmark KOSPI edged up 0.30% to close at 5,550 on Friday, recovering slightly from the previous session's plunge, as investors bought beaten-down semiconductor stocks. SK hynix advanced 4.42%, while Samsung Electronics rose 0.47%, alongside gains in SK Square (3.20%) and Samsung Biologics (7.71%). Retail investors also turned net buyers during the session, signaling a shift in sentiment after a sharp selloff. However, lingering concerns over returns on massive AI-related investments, compounded by overnight losses in major US technology stocks, limited the rebound. Losses in LG Energy Solution (-1.79%), Hyundai Motor (-1.99%), and KB Financial Group (-3.29%) also weighed on the index, highlighting uneven performance across large-cap stocks. At the same time, elevated oil prices amid continued Middle East tensions remained a risk, as higher energy costs could stoke inflation and increase operating expenses.
The benchmark KOSPI edged up 0.30% to close at 5,550 on Friday, recovering slightly from the previous session's plunge, as investors bought beaten-down semiconductor stocks. SK hynix advanced 4.42%, while Samsung Electronics rose 0.47%, alongside gains in SK Square (3.20%) and Samsung Biologics (7.71%). Retail investors also turned net buyers during the session, signaling a shift in sentiment after a sharp selloff. However, lingering concerns over returns on massive AI-related investments, compounded by overnight losses in major US technology stocks, limited the rebound.
Losses in LG Energy Solution (-1.79%), Hyundai Motor (-1.99%), and KB Financial Group (-3.29%) also weighed on the index, highlighting uneven performance across large-cap stocks. At the same time, elevated oil prices amid continued Middle East tensions remained a risk, as higher energy costs could stoke inflation and increase operating expenses.