South Korean shares end little changed; uncertainty over US trade talks lingers

Published on 09/25/2025 at 03:16 am EDT

• KOSPI flat, foreigners net buyers
• Korean won strengthens against dollar
• South Korea benchmark bond yield rises

(Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares ended little changed on Thursday, as investors stayed cautious as uncertainty over trade negotiations with the U.S. lingered.
** The won strengthened after the country's finance minister discussed setting up a currency swap line with his U.S. counterpart, but it remained near the psychological barrier of 1,400 per dollar.
** Treasury yields rose, with the policy-sensitive three-year yield hitting a more than five-month high, as a central bank official raised concern over housing market risks.
** The benchmark KOSPI closed down 1.03 points, or 0.03%, at 3,471.11.
** South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday that trade talks with the United States should be "commercially rational".
** Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol separately held discussions with Bessent on a currency swap.
** "Upside for the stock market was capped by caution ahead of major events at home and abroad. There was no clear outcome from President Lee and Minister Koo's meetings," said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
** A board member of the Bank of Korea said on Thursday that policy coordination is required to respond to financial stability risks.
** Among index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 3.88%, tracking a rally in U.S. electric-vehicle maker Tesla.
** Search engine Naver surged 11.4%, its biggest gain since June 18, after it said its financial affiliate was considering cooperation with Dunamu, an operator of crypto exchange UPbit.
** Still, decliners outnumber gainers by 534 to 338.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 184.5 billion won ($131.66 million).
** The won was quoted 0.23% higher at 1,400.6 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform. In the previous session, it touched the weakest level since August 1 at 1,405.5.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 4.2 basis points to 2.529%, while thebenchmark 10-year yield rose by 3.3 basis points to 2.882%. ($1 = 1,401.3700 won)
 (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Janane Venkatraman) 

Sumber : Reuters