Sony posted better-than-expected quarterly results, but Samsung Electronics' figures came out far better, said Steve Lee, an analyst at Goodmorning Shinhan Securities. Banking issues rose amid rising hopes about their third quarter outlook. Shares in Shinhan Financial Group rose 1.51 percent after it reported on Wednesday a narrower-than-expected decrease in quarterly profit with a modest interest margin contraction. J.P. Morgan on Thursday raised its target price for Shinhan by 14 percent to 50,000 won ($40.2) and its fiscal 2009 net profit estimate to 1.4 trillion won from 1.1 trillion won to reflect the stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings. But shares in KB Financial Group declined 1.62 percent ahead of its earnings after the market close on Thursday. Meanwhile, shares in Korea Gas Corp (KOGAS) jumped 9.24 percent after it posted solid results for the April-June quarter on Wednesday.