South Korean stocks edged up 0.2 percent Thursday as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of a key policymaking meeting in Europe, analysts said. The local currency rose to a new yearly high against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 3.97 points to 1,959.12. Trading volume was moderate at 490 million shares worth 4.22 trillion won ($3.82 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 540 to 277.

“There are no bigger issues to push up the main index further following a recent rally driven by better-than-expected data from the United States,” said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst from Daewoo Securities Co. (Yonhap News)