April 27, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s stock market closed higher on March 30 on the back of bullish trading of technology shares following improved investor sentiment in the United States, analysts said. The local currency gained against the greenback.

The benchmark KOSPI advanced 9.48 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,445.85. Trade volume was moderate at 391 million shares worth 6.37 trillion won (US$5.98 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 645 to 194.

Analysts said Seoul shares closed higher as investors scooped up technology shares following improved investor sentiment on Wall Street.

Foreigners offloaded a net 171.7 billion won, with retail investors selling a net 108 billion won. Institutions bought more shares than they sold at a net 289 billion won.

Market behemoth Samsung Electronics advanced 0.37 percent to 2,461,000 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix climbed 1.25 percent to 81,300 won. Samsung SDI also moved up 0.79 percent to 192,500 won, with LG Electronics increasing 0.46 percent to 109,500 won.

Korea’s top portal operator Naver closed 0.76 percent higher at 792,000 won, and Netmarble Games advanced 4.08 percent to 153,000 won. Kakao, the operator of the country’s top mobile messenger, also added 1.93 percent to 132,000 won.

Chemical shares closed mixed, with LG Chem losing 0.13 percent to 385,500 won and LG Household & Health Care rising 1.34 percent to 1,208,000 won. AmorePacific moved up 3.26 percent to 317,000 won.

Pharmaceutical shares closed mixed, with Celltrion falling 2.37 percent to 309,500 won while Samsung BioLogics added 0.21 percent to 487,000 won. Hanmi Pharmaceutical slid 1.16 percent to 511,000 won.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor closed unchanged at 143,500 won, with its auto parts arm Hyundai Mobis dropping 5.71 percent to 239,500 won. Kia Motors moved down 2.67 percent to 31,000 won.

The local currency closed at 1,063.50 won against the US dollar, up 2.40 won from the previous session.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)