ID :
54815
Fri, 04/10/2009 - 17:21
Auther :

Seoul shares end 1.5 pct higher on financial gains

SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks rose 1.5 percent Friday as
investors scooped up financial shares amid eased woes over the health of the U.S.
banking sector, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 19.69 points to
1,336.04. Volume was heavy at 911.7 million shares worth 8.98 trillion won
(US$6.75 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 525 to 300.
"Foreign and retail investors bought Seoul stocks, supporting the KOSPI's
upswing," said Rhoo Yong-seok, an analyst at Hyundai Securities Co. "Rising hopes
that all 19 of the biggest banks in the U.S. would pass a stress test and a
positive earnings estimate by a U.S. lender gave a boost to sentiment."
U.S. shares surged to a two-month high Thursday after banking giant Wells Fargo
said it expected higher-than-expected profits for the first quarter. The Dow
Jones industrial average soared 3.14 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq jumped
3.89 percent.
Following overnight gains in U.S. markets, foreign investors bought a net 405.2
billion won worth of local stocks on the main bourse.
Rhoo said that although the Seoul bourse may undergo a correction due to recent
rallies, it has momentum to continue its upward trend given signs of
stabilization in U.S. financial markets.
Financial shares traded in positive territory mirroring gains among their peers
in U.S. markets. KB Financial Group, the holding company of Kookmin Bank, gained
0.66 percent to 38,150 won and its rival Woori Finance Holdings jumped 8.03
percent to 9,960 won.
Top steelmaker POSCO gained 1.2 percent to 379,500 won ahead of the announcement
of its first-quarter earnings. Market leader Samsung Electronics jumped 3.97
percent to 603,000 won.
The local currency ended at 1,333 won against the U.S. dollar, down 10.5 won from
Thursday's close, as foreign investors snapped up the greenback to repatriate
dividends to their home countries, dealers said.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)

X