Roundup: S. Korean shares rise after 3-day holiday

South Korean shares ended higher on Monday after three-day holiday last week when positive news came from Europe and the United States.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6. 94 points, or 0.35 percent, to 1,968.39 at the close. Trading volume stood at 334.14 million shares worth 4.04 trillion won (3. 64 billion U.S. dollars).

The KOSPI priced in positive news from Europe and the U.S., including the agreement to Greece bailout talks and the easing of concerns about earlier-than-expected rate increase by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

South Korea's financial markets were closed from Wednesday to Friday for the Lunar New Year's holiday.

After the three-day holiday, the local stock market reflected positive news all at once, resulting in the bullish close.

Foreigners bought a net 111 billion won worth of shares, while institutional and retail investors sold stocks worth 5 billion won and 94 billion won respectively.

Large-cap shares ended mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics declined 0.7 percent, and top automaker Hyundai lost 0. 3 percent.

Naver, the most-used search engine, sank 4.8 percent, but memory chip giant SK Hynix rose 1.6 percent. The state-run power supplier Korea Electric Power Corp. gained 1.5 percent, and the Number one steel company POSCO climbed 1.3 percent.

The South Korean currency finished at 1,108.7 won versus the greenback, down 6.9 won from Tuesday's close.

Bond prices ended lower. Yields on the liquid three-year treasury notes added 0.7 basis points to 2.061 percent, and the return on the benchmark 10-year government bonds gained 4.3 basis points to 2.426 percent. Endi