Seoul: South Korean stocks ended higher Thursday, rebounding after a sharp fall earlier in the day, as major semiconductor shares gained ground after export data proved the sector's robust performance, while uncertainties over the U.S.-Iran war remained in place.

According to Yonhap News Agency, after choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 33.13 points, or 0.43 percent, to close at 7,763.95. The index had started nearly 3 percent lower. The secondary KOSDAQ surged 4.76 percent to end at 996.93, with the bourse operator having issued a sidecar for the index at around 1:58 p.m., halting program trading for five minutes.

The KOSPI's trade volume was moderate at 472.6 million shares worth 45.2 trillion won (US$29.5 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 575 to 318. Retail investors pushed up the main index, purchasing 2.07 trillion won worth of local shares, while foreigners continued their sell-off for the 24th consecutive session, dumping a net 1.47 trillion won. Institutions unloaded 755.4 billion won.