Seoul shares ended little changed Friday as tech losses were offset by an advance in autos and steels, with investors remaining cautious about US trade tariffs. The Korean Won rose against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.52 points, or 0.02 percent, to close at 2,654.58. The main index has risen 2.5 percent this week.
Trade volume was moderate at 434.84 million shares worth 11.03 trillion won ($7.7 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 508 to 370.
Institutions and individuals bought stocks worth 116.9 billion won and 3.2 billion won, respectively, offsetting foreign selling valued at 220.6 billion won.
On top of a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, US President Donald Trump is set to announce fresh tariffs on cars, chips and pharmaceuticals.
In Seoul, auto and steel stocks led gains.
Top carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.48 percent to 206,000 won, and its smaller affiliate Kia climbed 0.11 percent.
Leading steelmaker Posco Holdings jumped 5.03 percent to 282,000 won, and Hyundai Steel advanced 3.52 percent to 26,450 won.
Steel stocks jumped on news that the government will hold a meeting next week to discuss anti-dumping measures on Chinese thick steel plate imports.
Among decliners, market behemoth Samsung Electronics fell 0.34 percent to 58,200 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix declined 1.18 percent to 209,500 won.
The local currency was quoted at 1,434.30 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., up 3.6 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
