Seoul shares rise nearly 1% over South Korea-US tariff negotiations

Seoul: South Korean stocks finished nearly one per cent higher on Friday, as investors assessed the outcome of the first round of tariff talks between Seoul and Washington. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 23.97 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 2,546.3. Trade volume was thin at 386.27 million shares worth 8.2 trillion won ($5.78 billion), with winners beating losers 645 to 238, reports Yonhap news agency. Institutions and foreign investors combined purchased a net 721.5 billion won worth of stocks, while individuals sold a net 773 billion won worth of shares.