South Korean shares edged up slightly in muted trading early on Monday, and indexes are expected to barely move this holiday-shortened week.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) was up 0.1 per cent at 2,037.50 points at 0209 GMT.
“Investors will be holding their positions, keeping the trading volume low for this week as the market will be closed on Friday,” said Kim Ye-eun, a stock analyst at LIG Investment & Securities.
Offshore investors were set to be small net sellers of the KOSPI shares. Decliners outnumbered advancers 417 to 352.
The sub-index for iron, steel, and metal dropped nearly 2 per cent as leading companies such as Posco and Hyundai Steel Co both lost more than 2 per cent.
The South Korean won edged down as the dollar eased in the global market, breaking a seven-day streak offalls. The local currency stood at 1,199.9 to the dollar, up 0.3 per cent compared to the previous close of 1,203.0.
March futures on three-year treasury bonds shed 0.02 point to 109.48.