SEOUL: The South Korean won was little changed on Thursday, paring initial losses on month-end dollar selling by exporters that helped offset strength in the US currency from heightened tensions in Ukraine.
The won was quoted at 1,066.3 per dollar at 0241 GMT, compared with Wednesday's domestic close of 1,065.4.
"The initial dollar-long position is clearing out on exporters' dollar unwinding and the yuan's strength against the greenback," a currency dealer said, referring to the Chinese currency cutting recent sharp losses against the dollar.
The political upheaval in Ukraine bolstered the dollar's strength early in the session, but was matched by exporters who converted their dollars for monthly settlements with the month-end approaching.
Despite falling below its official midpoint fixing for the third consecutive day, the yuan eked out modest gains against the dollar, lending support to the won and other regional currencies.
Meanwhile, South Korea posted a current account surplus of $7.53 billion in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, slipping from a revised all-time high surplus of $8.07 billion in December, Bank of Korea data showed.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was down 0.1 percent at 1,972.82 points.
March futures on three-year treasury bonds were up 0.01 point at 105.93, tracking strength in US Treasuries.
The 10-year US debt yield fell to a three-week low of 2.662 percent.
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