South Korean financial markets in brief:
** South Korean stocks fell on Thursday as financial markets were far from fully optimistic about the prospects of the U.S. Federal Reserve cutting interest rates this year. The won weakened, while benchmark bond yields rose.
** The benchmark KOSPI lost 9.59 points, or 0.35%, to 2,735.46 at 01:44 GMT.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 0.49% and peer SK Hynix lost 0.11%, while battery maker LG Energy Solution slipped 1. 53%.
** Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins said Wednesday that the U.S. economy needs to cool down in order to bring inflation back to the central bank’s 2% target.
** Hyundai Motor lost 1.45% and Kia Corp lost 1.21%, while search engine Naver and instant messaging Kakao fell 1.62% and 0.80%, respectively.
** Of the 932 stocks traded, 401 rose and 453 fell.
** Foreigners were net sellers of stocks worth 105.3 billion won.
** The won was quoted at 1,368.1 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.48 percent lower than its previous close at 1,361.5.
** In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,367.6 per dollar, down 0.2 percent on the day, while in non-deliverable futures trading, its one-month contract was quoted at 1 364.4.
**The KOSPI has increased by 3.02% since the start of the year, and has gained 0.3% over the last 30 sessions.
** The won has lost 5.9% against the dollar since the start of the year. ** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year Treasury notes fell 0.06 points to 104.31.
**The yield on Korea’s most liquid three-year Treasury bonds rose 1.2 basis points to 3.450 percent, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose 2.3 basis points to 3.550 %. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
