Seoul stocks ended slightly higher on Friday, after buying related to falling crude oil prices more than offset losses sparked by an unexpected interest rate hike in China, the top market for South Korean goods.
The rate hike hit stocks with big exposure to the Chinese market such as steel makers POSCO Co Ltd and INI Steel, along with oil refiners and shipping firms. "Commodity and raw material shares got hurt today from the rise in interest rates in China," said Kim Sung-ki, a fund manager at Chohung Investment Trust Management.
It eked out a 0.8 percent increase for the week. Easing crude oil futures from record highs this week removed a key anxiety over higher energy prices squeezing corporate profits and hitting consumers' wallets in South Korea, the world's fourth-largest oil importer.
Oil eased to $50.63 per barrel in Asia, sharply below the $55.67 posted this week. Airline shares rose sharply, with Korean Air Co, the nation's biggest carrier, rising 3.31 percent to 17,150 won.
Shares in state-controlled power provider, Korea Electric Power Corp, rose 1.76 percent to 23,150 won on expectations for an increase in electricity prices amid falling fuel prices and after better-than-expected quarterly profits.
But China's first rate hike in nearly a decade prompted a sharp selloff in shares of steel makers, which depend on their Asian neighbour as an export market. Shares in POSCO dropped 2.05 percent to 167,500 won, while shares in INI Steel fell 4.44 percent to 11,850 won.
Sales to China make up a big part of both businesses. Shares in shipping firms also fell, with Hanjin Shipping down 2.05 percent to 21,550 won and Hyundai Merchant Marine Co down 3.18 percent to 13,700 won.
A continued strengthening of the South Korean won to more than four year highs also capped further gains in the market, amid worries about the impact on exporters competitiveness.
Elsewhere, shares in Kookmin Bank, the nation's top lender rose 2.05 percent to 37,400 won as its shareholders approved the appointment of a former Citibank official as the new chief executive.
Shares in Hyundai Motor Co rose 0.93 percent to 54,300 won, while its affiliate Kia Motors Corp jumped 3.45 percent to 10,500 amid an optimistic earnings outlook in the fourth quarter.
Shares in top non-life insurance firm Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance Co rose 1.06 percent to 66,600 won after it reported a 35 percent surge in quarterly net profit.
Stronger-than-expected growth in industrial production in September had limited impact in the market, analysts said. Trade volume reached 248.4 million shares worth 1.9 trillion won, compared with 280.4 million shares worth 2 trillion won on Thursday.
Gainers edged out losers by 392 to 323, with 83 titles ending flat. Foreign investors sold a net of 10.6 billion won in shares on the main bourse, while retail investors sold a net of 106.1 billion won.
Institutional investors bought a net of 21.3 billion won. The December KOSPI 200 futures index shed 0.25 point to 107.50 and the underlying KOSPI 200 spot index added 0.22 point to 107.99.
The over-the-counter Kosdaq gained 0.41 percent to finish at 357.04.