Seoul stocks jump nearly 6% as bargain buying lifts chipmakers

South Korean stocks rebounded nearly 6 percent Friday as investors snapped up bargain-priced semiconductor shares after the previous session's steep sell-off.

The Korean won also strengthened against the US dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 440.25 points, or 5.76 percent, to close at 8,088.34, after rising as high as 8,211.54.

The rebound came after the index plunged 7.89 percent on Thursday, dragged down by a sharp sell-off in Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

At ar ...