(LEAD) Seoul shares end higher on bargain hunting amid uncertainties; S. Korean won up

Seoul's stock market finished higher on Friday as bargain hunters snapped up major technology stocks, despite worries about rising interest rates and oil prices. The Korean won strengthened against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 32.39 points, or 0.45 percent, to close at 7,003.74.

Overnight, U.S. stocks edged slightly higher as Treasury yields fell from record levels, though gains were limited by higher crude oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased by 0.04 percent, while the S&P 500 rose 0.19 percent. The Nasdaq composite added 0.04 percent. Trading volume was modest at 227.64 million shares, worth 15.29 trillion won ($11.32 billion), with more advancing stocks than declining ones - 500 to 359.

Foreign investors and individuals sold a net of 143.78 billion won and 1.72 trillion won, respectively, while institutions netted a gain of 381.38 billion won. Analyst Han Ji-young from Kiwoom Securities noted that despite macroeconomic uncertainties like higher interest rates and oil price volatility, optimism for an earnings recovery is boosting the market.

Tech giants Samsung Electronics and SK hynix were relatively flat, while SK Square, the parent of SK hynix, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a Samsung Electronics affiliate, both rose. The Korean won closed at 1,350.6 to the U.S. dollar, up 7.8 won from the previous session.