Ssangyong Motor

South Korean shares rose Tuesday to a two-month high as automakers and Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

extended gains. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index, or Kospi, rose 5.89 points, or 0.4 percent,

to close at 1,385.64, the highest level since Jan. 31 when it ended at 1,399.83. It was the Kospi's ninth

straight gain. "Foreign investors are returning, global markets are stronger, and healthy (South Korean)

export data firmed investors' sentiment," said Sung Jin-kyung, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

South Korea's trade surplus for March, announced Saturday, came to US$1.285 billion (euro1.057 billion)

more than double February's and higher than analyst expectations.

Ssangyong Motor Co. jumped 5.3 percent to 6,970 won.

....

Volume rose to 385.7 million shares valued at 4.2 trillion won (US$4.4 billion; euro3.6 billion).

Gainers outpaced decliners 379 to 371 with 63 stocks unchanged. Five stocks were up by their daily

15 percent limit, while two were limit down. The South Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.

The greenback finished at 963.2 won, down from 970.8 won Monday.

-Source from Houston Chronicle(Apr 4, 2006)