[THE INVESTOR] Korean shares closed higher on Jan. 11 on optimism over US-China trade negotiations. The won rose against the dollar.

The benchmark KOSPI rose 12.29 points, or 0.60 percent, to 2,075.57. Trading volume was moderate at 372.53 million shares worth 4.48 trillion won (US$4.01 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 534 to 294.

Foreigners bought a net 177.43 billion won worth of stocks. But institutions and individuals sold a combined 207.43 billion won worth of stocks, limiting gains in the main index.

The Korean won traded at 1,116.40 won against the greenback, up 1.90 won from the previous session’s close.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)