South Korean stocks gain as trade deal optimism outweighs ex-div adjustment

Round-up of South Korean financial markets: South Korean shares followed Wall Street to end higher on Friday, as losses from stocks trading ex-dividend was outweighed by a report of robust US online holiday sales and optimism over a US-China trade deal. The Korean won was little changed, while the benchmark bond yield rose.

In a yearly event, 46.0 points - equivalent to 2.09 percent - were shaved off the benchmark index by the ex-dividend price adjustment, according to the Korea Exchange. The Seoul stock market's main KOSPI ended up 6.28 points, or 0.29 percent, at 2,204.21. Earlier in the session, the index rose as much as 0.8 percent to touch its highest since May 2.

Sentiment was boosted after Beijing said on Thursday it was in close contact with Washington about an initial trade agreement, shortly after US President Donald Trump talked up a signing ceremony for the recently struck Phase 1 trade deal.

In addition to trade hopes, the report on strong holiday sales from the United States also supported risk appetite, said Noh Dong-kil, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities. US shoppers spent more online during this year's holiday shopping season, a report by Mastercard Inc showed on Wednesday, with e-commerce sales hitting a record high.

Overnight, the Nasdaq crossed the 9,000-point mark for the first time as all three major Wall Street indexes posted record closing highs boosted by optimism over US-China trade relations and gains in shares of Amazon.com. Foreigners were net buyers of 55.9 billion won ($48.15 million) worth of shares on the main board.

The won was quoted at 1,161.5 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform, 0.03 percent higher than its previous close at 1,161.8.

In offshore trading, the won was quoted at 1,161.0 per US dollar, steady from the previous day, while in non-deliverable forward trading its one-month contract was quoted at 1,159.2 per dollar. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was up 0.66 percent. Japanese stocks fell 0.36 percent.