South Korean stocks rose for the second consecutive session on Wednesday as investors loaded up on financial and bank shares on hope that the new retirement pension plan would bring more money into the nation's equity market, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. greenback.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 6.88 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 2,074.93. Trading volume was moderate at 322.6 million shares worth 4.3 trillion won (US$4.2 billion), with gainers beating losers 434 to 383.