South Korean stocks bounced back Thursday from eight days of losses as retail and institutional investors hunted for bargains while foreign investors sold shares, analysts said. The South Korean won closed nearly flat against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.55 percent, or 10.72 points, to 1,950.60. Trading volume was moderate at 218.94 million shares worth 3.82 trillion won (US$3.7 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 402 to 398.