0021 GMT - South Korea's benchmark Kospi rises 0.7% to 2421.56 in early trade, as shipbuilding and semiconductor stocks advance. Foreign and institutional investors are net buyers. Easing U.S. inflation worries and Wall Street's gains Friday support sentiment, iM Securities say in a note. Hanwha Ocean gains 5.2%, leading a broad rally in shipbuilders. Memory-chip maker SK Hynix is up 1.1%. Chip-making equipment supplier Hanmi Semiconductor is 2.3% higher. USD/KRW is 0.3% lower at 1,446.70, compared with the prior session's Seoul onshore trading close. South Korea's 10-year government bond yield is up 5.9 basis points at 2.873%. (kwanwoo.jun@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
December 22, 2024 19:21 ET (00:21 GMT)
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