Seoul: Won edges up, stocks steady as investors await US jobs data

[SEOUL] The South Korean won ended firmer against the US dollar on Friday as markets braced for US employment data later in the day for clues on how the report might influence near-term Federal Reserve policy.

The won was quoted at 1,183.6 to the US dollar at the conclusion of onshore trade, up 0.3 per cent compared to Thursday's close of 1,186.6.

It also was the second successive week of gains for the won, up 0.3 per cent.

South Korean shares closed a tentative day little changed ahead of an extended weekend as domestic markets close for holiday on Monday.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) closed nearly steady at 1,985.84 points.

For the week, the shares rose 0.8 per cent.

REUTERS