SEOUL, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended up by 3.71 points to a new high of 1,646.59 on Wednesday.

    The volume of KOSPI was moderate at 439.6 million shares worth 5.04 trillion won (5.40 billion U.S. dollars).

    The local currency ended at 931.4 won to one U.S. dollar, down 1 won from Tuesday's close.