Seoul: Stocks close at 9-month high; won inches down

[SEOUL] South Korean shares were firmer on Friday and ended at a 9-month high as foreigners and local institutions' purchases modestly supported the main bourse.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed up 0.1 per cent at 2,050.46, its highest since Nov 4, 2015.

Foreign investors purchased a net 61.6 billion won (S$75.18 million) worth of KOSPI shares.

On a weekly basis, the stocks gained 1.6 per cent, biggest gain in three weeks.

The South Korean won edged down, but ended the week up as it has escalated much earlier this week on global risk rally.

The won was quoted at 1,103.3 to the dollar at the conclusion of onshore trade, down 0.4 per cent from Thursday's close of 1,099.5.

The currency rose 0.6 per cent for the week, marking its third straight week of gains.

REUTERS