SEOUL: South Korean stocks started lower Monday as investors were waiting for the latest economic data from China, looking for further signs of weakness that could spur more actions to shore up growth in the world’s No. 2 economy.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 3.05 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,027.21 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Blue chip stocks traded bearish across the board.
Top cap Samsung Electronics declined 0.47 percent, and top automaker Hyundai Motors slid 0.62 percent.
Chemicals were up, with top refiner LG Chemical rising 0.86 percent and No. 3 S-Oil gaining 0.86 percent.
China is set to release updates on factory output and retail sales, as well as the third-quarter gross domestic product reading later in the day.
The local currency was trading at 1,132 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 2.9 won from Friday’s close.