South Korean stocks snapped a two-session fall Wednesday, driven by gains from bio and information technology stocks, ahead of a fourth-quarter earnings release from Nvidia this week. The local currency fell against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 10.8 points, or 0.41 percent, to close at 2,641.09.
Trade volume was slim at 377.9 million shares worth 10.9 trillion won ($7.6 billion), with winners beating losers 543 to 335.
Institutions scooped up a net 239.6 billion won, while foreigners and individuals dumped a net 322 billion won and 21 billion won, respectively.
Overnight, Wall Street extended its losses on worries over inflation and tariffs after a report on lower-than-expected US consumer confidence for February was released.
Investors are awaiting an earnings report from artificial intelligence chip giant Nvidia this week, while remaining concerned over economic slowdown and US tariffs.
In Seoul, bio and IT shares finished in positive territory.
Leading pharmaceutical firm Celltrion soared 8.73 percent to 189,300 won and SK bioscience added 0.54 percent to 46,650 won.
Top online portal operator Naver increased 1.31 percent to 231,500 won and its rival Kakao jumped 5.91 percent to 42,100 won.
Game makers were also strong as NCSOFT advanced 2.65 percent to 178,400 won and Netmarble climbed 1.01 percent to 45,200 won.
No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor went up 1.23 percent to 205,000 won and Kumho Petro Chemical vaulted 3.32 percent to 118,200 won.
However, tech giant Samsung Electronics retreated 1.05 percent to 56,600 won and leading defense firm Hanwha Aerospace fell 1.18 percent to 672,000 won.
Hyundai Rotem, the train manufacturing subsidiary of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group, declined 3.93 percent to 85,600 won, after announcing a 2.2 trillion-won deal to supply trains to Morocco.
The local currency was quoted at 1,433.1 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 2.7 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
