Seoul shares end lower on tech losses amid rising bond yields

Seoul shares closed lower on Tuesday, primarily due to declines in technology stocks, as investors grappled with the prospect of multi-decade high bond yields. The Korean won strengthened against the US dollar. After starting the day on a high note, the KOSPI index ended with a 62.35-point decline, or 0.89 percent, at 6,941.39. Trading activity was subdued, with 257.27 million shares exchanging hands, amounting to 19.1 trillion won ($14.2 billion).

There were 459 more decliners than gainers in the market. Foreign investors and institutions collectively offloaded stocks worth a combined 3.73 trillion won, while domestic investors made a net purchase of 740.56 billion won. Looking ahead, market participants are anticipating third-quarter corporate earnings, which are expected to be weighed down by higher interest rates, surging energy costs, and renewed inflation concerns, all of which are driving up global bond yields.

Analysts suggest that investors will likely remain cautious until fresh policy measures or robust corporate earnings reports emerge. Key companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Korea Aerospace Industries reported mixed fortunes, with the latter two experiencing declines of 1.45 percent and 3.69 percent, respectively.

In contrast, LG Electronics surged 7.64 percent, buoyed by a long-term agreement to supply chillers for AI data centers to a North American entity. Battery manufacturer Samsung SDI and carmaker Hyundai Motor, meanwhile, gained 8.7 percent and 0.43 percent, respectively. As of 3:30 p.m., the Korean won was trading at 1,343.6 per US dollar, up from the previous session's close of 1,344.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, also rose, with the yield on three-year Treasurys falling 0.4 basis point to 3.933 percent, and five-year government bond returns slipping 1.2 basis points to 4.117 percent.