Seoul shares closed slightly higher on Thursday as most investors stayed on the sidelines, waiting to see how the Greek crisis pans out, while foreign investors exited for a 17th straight session. Foreigners dumped a net 263 billion won ($224.3 million) worth of shares for a total net foreign outflow of 3.8 trillion won during the stretch - the longest capital flight by foreign investors since March 2009.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.32 percent to close at 1,814.47 points. The index has fallen 8.5 percent so far this month on fears over the political turmoil in Greece and contagion risks from ailing Spanish banks, although it has risen slightly on technical support since hitting a four-month low last Thursday.
Trading was thin, with 3.48 trillion won ($2.97 billion) worth of shares exchanging hands on the main bourse, the lowest turnover in five months and 71 percent of the average daily volume recorded in May. Daelim Industrial shares rose 1.7 percent after its joint-bid with consortium partner Japanese trading house Sojitz Corp was selected for a $776 million contract to build a coal power plant in Vietnam. The KOSPI 200 index of core stocks rose 0.31 percent while the junior small-cap heavy KOSDAQ ticked 0.04 percent lower.