[THE INVESTOR] Korean stocks rose for the fourth consecutive trading session on Jan. 18 as predictions of progress in the US-China trade dispute lifted investor sentiment, analysts said. The local currency firmed against the greenback.

The benchmark KOSPI scored 17.22 points, or 0.82 percent, to finish at 2,124.28. Trading volume was moderate at 449.28 million shares worth 5.2 trillion won (US$4.6 billion), with gainers easily beating losers 622 to 208.

The local currency closed at 1,121.9 won against the US dollar, up 0.6 won from the previous session.

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