Strengthening won

A foreigner leaves a currency exchange shop in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul, Thursday, when the won-dollar rate closed at 1,040.2 won, down from 1,041.4 won the previous day. The rate fell further to 1,035 won Friday, the lowest level in five years. Currency dealers in Seoul say that the local currency’s sharp gain against the dollar has been driven by globally weak dollar sentiment, active foreign equity buying and Korea’s soaring trade surplus. / Yonhap