Stocks end higher on chip gains amid hopes for shareholder return plans

Seoul stocks ended higher on Friday as investors pin hopes on large-scale shareholder return schemes from the country's top two chipmakers -- Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed up 60.37 points, or 0.88 percent, to 6,912.95, after rising as high as 6,954.12. Trade volume was moderate at 404.5 million shares worth 28.7 trillion won ($20.7 billion). Losers far outnumbered winners 681 to 193. Retail and