South Korean shares extended their gains for a second straight session on Tuesday, supported by a sharp rise in Samsung Electronics, although investor sentiment remained cautious amid uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict, Reuters reported.
The benchmark KOSPI rose 38.95 points, or 0.62%, to 6,338.61 as of 0208 GMT, following a 0.65% gain in the previous session.
Samsung Electronics climbed 3.59%, providing a significant boost to the index. However, gains were tempered by declines in other major stocks, with SK Hynix falling 0.42% and LG Energy Solution losing 1.50%.
Broader market sentiment remained cautious after US President Donald Trump responded to Iran's conditions for a potential peace agreement with demands for compensation related to deaths during wars, attacks and protests. The development raised concerns about the prospects of resolving tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Strong export growth supports sentiment
South Korea's trade outlook provided some support to investors. Data showed that the country's exports jumped 45.3% in the first 10 days of August from a year earlier, underscoring continued strength in external demand.
South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said trading in single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds had declined following supplementary government measures. Authorities are prepared to take further policy steps to contain market volatility, he said.
Among other major stocks, Samsung Biologics advanced 2.55%, while POSCO Holdings declined 2.38%. Hyundai Motor fell 0.98%, while Kia Corp was unchanged.
Of the 908 stocks traded, 512 advanced and 348 declined, indicating that gains were relatively broad-based despite weakness in several large companies.
Foreign investors were net buyers of South Korean shares worth 147.6 billion won ($104.29 million).
Won strengthens, bond yields rise
The South Korean won strengthened 0.18% against the US dollar, trading at 1,415.7 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, compared with 1,418.3 at the previous close.
In the bond market, September futures on three-year Treasury bonds fell 0.14 point to 103.20.
The most actively traded three-year Korean Treasury bond yield rose 4.7 basis points to 3.823%, while the benchmark 10-year yield increased 6.0 basis points to 4.301%.
The market remained focused on developments in the Middle East and their potential implications for regional risk sentiment, while strong export growth and gains in major technology stocks provided support to South Korean equities.
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