Seoul shares rose on Thursday, bucking declines in other Asian markets, after the election of South Korea's new president raised hopes for policies to boost sectors from property to stock markets. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended up 0.32 percent at 1,999.50 points after rising as high as 2,006.08 points, its highest intraday level since October 5.

Builders gained ground on expectations of policy by the president-elect to lift the country's lacklustre housing sector, with Daewoo Engineering & Construction gaining 4.8 percent and GS Engineering & Construction rising 4.3 percent. Brokerages also firmed, after Park vowed to help the KOSPI reach 3,000 points during her five-year term. SK Securities rose 2.6 percent and Daeshin Securities climbed 3.9 percent. Market heavyweights lost ground, with Samsung Electronics down 0.8 percent and Hyundai Motor falling 0.7 percent.

Copyright Reuters, 2012