South Korea shares edge higher on Wall Street gains
SEOUL, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Round-up of South Korean financial markets: ** South Korean shares rose on Thursday, tracking gains in US technology stocks and brushing aside uncertainty surrounding Nvidia's leadership. The won strengthened, while the benchmark bond yield fell.
** The benchmark KOSPI .KS11 was up 19.57 points, or 0.36%, at 5,394.93 as of 0145 GMT.
** Chipmaker Samsung Electronics 005930.KS rose 2.55%, while peer SK Hynix 000660.KS gained 0.47%.
** Among other index heavyweights, battery maker LG Energy Solution 373220.KS slid 0.45%, while Hyundai Motor 005380.KS and sister automaker Kia Corp 000270.KS were down 1.47% and 1.27%, respectively.
** The Nasdaq and S&P 500 ended Wednesday more than 1% higher and the S&P 500 technology sector was up 2.7%. Tech stocks rebounded after a selloff following last week's US midterm elections, driven by concerns over tighter AI regulation and the sustainability of the sector's rally.
** Nvidia's NVDA.O board is meeting on Wednesday to decide whether to oust CEO Jensen Huang, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the world's dominant supplier of AI processors grapples with reports of two extramarital affairs involving its longtime leader.
** Steelmaker POSCO Holdings 005490.KS shed 0.18%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics 207940.KS fell 0.70%.
** Of the total 907 traded issues, 259 shares advanced, while 605 declined.
** Foreigners were net buyers of shares worth 128.6 billion won.
** The won was quoted at 1,336.4 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform , 0.08% higher than its previous close at 1,337.5.
** The KOSPI has risen 28.02% so far this year.
** The won has strengthened 7.7% against the dollar this year.
** In money and debt markets, December futures on three-year treasury bonds gained 0.10 point to 103.61.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield fell by 3.3 basis points to 3.700%, while the benchmark 10-year yield fell by 4.1 basis points to 3.911%.