SEOUL: South Korean stocks ended at their lowest level in about eight weeks on Tuesday as the weakening yen battered automakers and the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) wrong-footed tourism-related shares, analysts said. The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) tumbled 23.73 points, or 1.13 percent, to a near two-month low of 2,078.64. Trade volume was heavy at 510.8 million shares worth 6.9 trillion won (US$6.3 billion), with losers far outnumbering gainers 595 to 221.
