* Risk-off sentiment heightens as Middle East war rages
* Korean won weakens 1% against dollar
* South Korea benchmark bond yield rises
SEOUL, – Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares slumped 8% on Monday to activate circuit breakers for a second time this month on an escalating Middle East conflict, while the won dropped more than 1% to trade near a key psychological barrier of 1,500 per dollar.
** The benchmark KOSPI was down 452.80 points, or 8.11%, at 5,132.07 by 0148 GMT.
** The KOSPI lost 10.6% last week, the biggest drop since March 2020, amid heightened volatility on worries about surging oil prices and risk-off sentiment.
** Circuit breakers were activated for the second time this month, after they were triggered on Wednesday for the first time since August 2024.
** The won was quoted at 1,497.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 1.06% lower than its previous close at 1,481.6. Last week, the currency hit the psychological threshold of 1,500 per dollar for the first time since March 2009.
** The Bank of Korea said there was excessive volatility in bond and foreign exchange markets, as it pledged to take market-stabilizing measures, if required.
** Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge in Tehran a week into its conflict with the United States and Israel.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics fell 10.04%, while peer SK Hynix lost 11.58%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution slid 6.62%.
** Of the total 927 traded issues, only 56 shares advanced, while 869 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.8 trillion won.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield rose by 19.6 basis points to 3.426%, hitting its highest level since June 2024, while the benchmark 10-year yield rose 13.3 basis points to 3.749%.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
