SEOUL, April 12 (Xinhua) -- South Korean stocks kept a winning streak for the 11th straight session Friday, marking the fifth time in history that local stocks continued to rise for such a long period.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 9.01 points, or 0.41 percent, to settle at 2,233.45. Trading volume stood at 436.9 million shares worth 5.9 trillion won (5.2 billion U.S. dollars).
The KOSPI continued to go upward since March 29. It was the first time in about 10 years since July 2009 that the main index kept rising for 11 trading days in a row, posting the fifth time in history for such a long winning streak.
Foreign investors remained net buyers in the local stock market. The foreigners purchased domestic stocks for 10 days out of the past 11 trading sessions.
Market watchers said that although corporate earnings expectations were lowered amid the global economic slump, the lowered market consensus was already priced in the stock market.
Blue-chip stocks ended mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.3 percent, but memory chip giant SK Hynix lost 0.4 percent. Samsung BioLogics, the biopharmaceutical unit of Samsung Group, added 0.1 percent, but the biggest automaker Hyundai Motor declined 1.2 percent.
The tech-savvy KOSDAQ index was up 1.36 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 767.85. The index also continued to pick up for the 11th consecutive session.
South Korea's currency finished at 1,139.4 won against the greenback, unchanged from the previous close.
Bond prices ended lower. Yields on the liquid three-year treasury notes added 0.1 basis point to 1.733 percent, and the return on the 10-year government bonds rose 1.4 basis points to 1.881 percent.
