South Korean financial markets in brief:
** South Korean stocks fell on Monday, with e-commerce companies dragging the benchmark index back from a 26-month high, while investors were cautious ahead of expected major economic indicators more late this week.
**The benchmark KOSPI index lost 7.40 points, or 0.27%, to 2,751.02 at 0144 GMT, after hitting its highest level since April 5, 2022 in the previous session.
** Analysts say U.S. economic data, such as retail sales, will be most watched this week. Domestically, South Korea will release its 20-day export data on Friday.
**Search engine Naver and instant messaging Kakao fell 1.94% and 2.73%, respectively, making the services sector the worst falling subindex.
**Chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 1.26% but peer SK Hynix gained 1.81%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution fell 2.15%.
** Hyundai Motor rose 4.48% following the decision to list its Indian unit in Mumbai. Its peer Kia Corp gained 3.26%.
** Of the 927 stocks traded, 382 rose, while 480 fell.
** Foreigners were net sellers of stocks worth 87.2 billion won ($63.18 million) on the main market.
** The won was quoted at 1,380.7 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.10 percent lower than its previous close at 1,379.3.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year Treasury notes rose 0.09 points to 105.02.
** The yield on Korea’s most liquid three-year Treasury bonds fell 4.4 basis points to 3.209 percent, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell 3.7 basis points to 3.274 %. ($1 = 1,380.2500 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
