South Korean stocks rose for a third consecutive session Tuesday on solid buying by foreign investors. The local currency rose against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 3.46 points, or 0.14 percent, to close at 2,492.10, extending the winning streak to a third session.
Trade volume was moderate at 400.83 million shares worth 9.23 trillion won ($6.35 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 444 to 425.
The index opened higher and had climbed over 1.2 percent during intraday trading, but most earlier gains were pared on heavy selling by individuals.
Foreigners purchased a net 162.03 billion won worth of shares, while retail and institutional investors shed a net 202.99 billion and 42.72 billion won worth of shares, respectively.
"Profit-taking following recent gains limited the upturn of the market. Investors digested a rally for US chip shares, possible changes of the new US administration and several other market-moving factors," Han Ji-young, an expert from Kiwoom Securities, said.
Top-cap shares ended mixed.
Tech giant Samsung Electronics fell 0.89 percent to 55,400 won, and SK hynix dropped 2.4 percent to 195,000 won following recent sharp gains.
But leading electric vehicle battery maker LG Energy Solution advanced 1.11 percent to 365,500 won, while LG Chem went down 0.39 percent to 255,500 won.
Major bio shares gathered ground. Samsung Biologics surged 3.91 percent to 983,000 won, and Celltrion increased 0.11 percent to 183,900 won.
Carmakers drifted lower. Top automaker Hyundai Motor lost 0.24 percent to 211,000 won, and its sister affiliate Kia skidded 1.39 percent to 99,100 won.
Top steelmaker POSCO Holdings gained 0.19 percent to 262,500 won, while internet platform giant Naver slid 0.24 percent to 208,000 won.
The local currency was quoted at 1,453.5 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., up 16.2 won from the previous session.
The won's strength came on the heels of a foreign media report that US President-elect Donald Trump would look at universal import tariffs, but only on certain sectors. (Yonhap)
