KOSPI May Reverse Thursday's Losses

(RTTNews) - The South Korea stock market ticked lower again on Thursday, one day after ending the four-day losing streak in which it had plunged more than 420 points or 5.9 percent. The KOSPI now sits just above the 6,715-point plateau although it may bounce higher again on Friday.

The global forecast for the Asian markets is positive on bargain hunting and easing oil prices and treasury yields. The European and U.S. markets were up and the Asian bourses are expected to follow suit.

The KOSPI finished slightly lower on Thursday as losses from the technology and automobile sectors were mitigated by support from the financial and energy companies.

For the day, the index eased 2.56 points or 0.04 percent to finish at 6,715.41. Volume was 197.2 million shares worth 15.5 trillion won. There were 450 gainers and 398 decliners.

The lead from Wall Street is firm as the major averages opened solidly higher on Thursday and remained in the green throughout the session.

The Dow jumped 316.14 points or 0.61 percent to finish at 51,778.04, while the NASDAQ surged 439.88 points or 1.69 percent to close at 26,089.55 and the S&P 500 rallied 85.95 points or 1.14 percent to end at 7,637.76.

Stocks surged early in the session amid an extended pullback by the price of crude oil after supply-related concerns eased amid Saudi Arabia's efforts to get its vital oil pipeline back in operation. West Texas Intermediate crude for October delivery was down $0.60 or 0.59 percent at $101.83 per barrel.

Treasury yields have moved to the downside along with crude oil prices, with the yield on the benchmark ten-year note slumping after ending the previous session roughly flat.

Traders shrugged off Wednesday's widely expected interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, even though projections point to at least one more rate hike before the end of the year.

In U.S. economic news, the Labor Department showed an unexpected decline in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits last week.