Seoul shares edged up on Monday, helped by a bounce in technology issues and crude refiners including LG Display and SK Innovation, but declines in financials weighed. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index finished up 0.59 percent at 2,082.16 points. The KOSPI 200 March futures index rose 1.95 points to 274.50 points. The KOSPI 200 spot index advanced 1.83 points to 274.50. The junior Kosdaq index rose 0.25 percent to 527.09.
But gains were limited with the market still hovering near its all-time-high of 2,119.24 points hit last week, and amid concerns about monetary tightening moves by China.
Shares in LG Display rose 3.8 percent despite posting weak earnings late on Friday amid hopes for improvement in the coming quarters.
Shares in LG Display are down 2.8 percent on the year, compared with the broader KOSPI's 1.5 percent gain. Its 12-month forward price earnings multiple is around 8.6, compared with the KOSPI's roughly 10, StarMine data showed.