South Korean shares closed higher on Monday as techs rebounded ahead of earnings reports, which kicked off with LG Display later in the afternoon. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed up 1 percent at 1,926.31 points, posting the biggest daily gain since March 25, but still down 3.9 percent so far this month.
The tech sub-index rose 1.8 percent, accounting for 0.5 percent of the KOSPI's gains. Shares in Samsung Electronics were up 1.9 percent while LG Electronics rose 2.3 percent. Shares in LG Display closed 2.2 percent higher shortly before it released earnings. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) jumped 6 percent after reporting orders totalling 1.2 trillion won ($1.08 billion) from Boeing for parts for the Dreamliner (787) and B737 jets and for AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters.
Overall, 525 shares advanced while 283 declined. Local institutions bought a net 20 billion won ($17.92 million) worth of KOSPI shares, buttressing the main board, but just 255,781 shares traded hands, making the session the thinnest since August 6. The KOSPI 200 benchmark of core stocks closed up 1.1 percent, while the junior KOSDAQ edged 1 percent higher.