Round-up ofSouth Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares rose on Wednesday to post their highest close since late February on hopes of fresh peace talks between the U.S. and Iran.
** The benchmarkKOSPIclosed up 123.64 points, or 2.07%, at 6,091.39, marking its highest closing level since February 27 and reaching the pre-war level.
** “The domestic stock market continued a bullish trend on hopes of a second round of negotiations between the U.S. and Iran to end the war,” said Lee Kyoung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities.
** Talks to end the Iran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of weekend negotiations prompted Washington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmakerSamsung Electronicsrose 2.18%, while peer SK Hynix gained 2.99%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 2.00%.
** Hyundai Motor and sister automaker Kia Corp were up 3.36% and up 1.54%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings added 1.80%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics rose 4.30%.
** Of the total 906 traded issues, 571 shares advanced, while 276 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 552.2 billion won ($374.60 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,474.2 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.10% lower than its previous close at 1,472.7.
** In money and debt markets, June futures on three-year treasury bonds gained 0.07 point to 104.42.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 1.9 basis points to 3.319%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 1.6 basis points to 3.645%. ($1 = 1,474.1000 won) (Reporting by Jihoon Lee; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
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