SEOUL: South Korean stocks traded 0.52 percent lower late Thursday morning, weighed down by a drop in tech and auto blue chips, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 10.97 points to 2,096.36 as of 11:20 a.m.
Tech behemoth Samsung Electronics lost nearly 2 percent, with top automaker Hyundai Motor sliding 0.8 percent.
But builders and insurers traded bullish. Hyundai Development soared around 4 percent, and life insurer Hanwha Life Insurance climbed 2 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,120.15 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 4.65 won from Thursday’s close.
The won-dollar exchange rate of 1,112.50 won at the opening has been corrected to 1,123.00 won, due to a trade error.
