South Korean shares rose on Wednesday as upbeat economic data from China eased market concerns caused by the scheduled congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 21.13 points, or 1.13 percent, to close at 1,887.49. Trading volume stood at 378.45 million shares worth 3.97 trillion won (3.54 billion U.S. dollars). China\'s foreign direct investment surprisingly jumped 20 percent in June from a year earlier. The figure eased worries about the China\'s economic slowdown. Foreign investors maintained their buying streak for five straight sessions with stock purchases worth 119.5 billion won. Institutional investors bought stocks worth 239.9 billion won, turning into net buyers in five trading days, but retail investors sold shares worth 352.8 billion won in a bid to lock in profits. Concerns, however, remained over an early exit of U.S. quantitative easing ahead of Bernanke\'s testimony to the U.S. Congress slated for Wednesday and Thursday. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics gained 1.7 percent, and top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 2.8 percent. The No.2 carmaker Kia Motors added 1.4 percent, and the nation\'s biggest auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis rose 1.2 percent. The local currency finished at 1,121.6 won against the greenback, down 3.6 won from Tuesday\'s close. Bond prices ended lower. The yield on the liquid three-year treasury notes rose 0.01 percentage point to 2.89 percent, and the return on the benchmark 10-year government bonds added 0.03 percentage point to 3.47 percent.