Seoul: Stocks end higher, post fifth straight weekly gain

[SEOUL] South Korean shares closed slightly higher on Friday in range-bound trade as markets continued to be subdued after hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve, with the benchmark index posting a fifth straight weekly gain.

The benchmark Kospi closed up 2.97 points, or 0.09 per cent, at 3,267.93, rebounding from a 0.42 per cent decline on Thursday.

For the week, it rose 0.57 per cent and for the year so far, it is up 13.73 per cent.

Among heavyweights, technology giant Samsung Electronics fell 0.49 per cent and peer SK Hynix slid 1.58 per cent.

Foreigners were net sellers of US$725.38 million worth of shares on the main board.

REUTERS