Seoul shares rose on Friday lifted by firm gains in brokerages and construction firms, but persistent fears about Japan's nuclear crisis and Middle East unrest weighed. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended up 1.13 percent or 22.1 points at 1,981.13 points.
"Investors are growing a bit more optimistic about the outcome of the nuclear crisis in Japan, and the focus appear to be back on recovery and reconstruction efforts," said Lee Kyung-soo, a market analyst at Shinyoung Securities. Foreign investors were buyers of a net 134.9 billion won ($119 million) worth of stocks, purchasing shares for a third consecutive session. Shares in POSCO surged 3.2 percent and Hyundai Steel advanced 3 percent. But shares in Samsung Electronics underperformed, edging up a mere 0.1 percent. The KOSPI 200 June futures index finished up 2.85 points at 263.05. The KOSPI 200 spot index rose 2.59 points to 262.39. The junior Kosdaq market ended up 1.43 percent at 494.79.