▲ This photo taken on July 9, 2026, shows the dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul during morning trading hours. (Yonhap)

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Seoul shares end higher on institutional buying

SEOUL, July 9 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares ended higher Thursday as institutional buying helped offset heavy retail selling amid a reassessment of the outlook for artificial intelligence (AI) demand. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.

After opening 3.3 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) trimmed earlier gains to close up 45.12 points, or 0.62 percent, at 7,291.91.

Trade volume was moderate at 574.75 million shares worth 37.46 trillion won (US$24.9 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 651 to 235.

Institutions and foreigners bought a net 1.29 trillion won and 137.54 billion won, respectively, while individuals sold a net 1.33 trillion won.

Investors remained concerned about renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as well as uncertainty over the outlook for artificial intelligence (AI) demand, analysts said.

"Renewed tensions between the United States and Iran and selling by retail investors amid heightened market volatility weighed on the benchmark index," Kang Jin-hyuk, an analyst at Shinhan Securities Co., said.

Overnight, U.S. stocks ended mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.81 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite rose 4.19 percent.

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