SEOUL: South Korean stocks traded 0.78 percent lower late Monday morning amid rising concerns over the slowing Chinese economy, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.77 points to 2,014.39 as of 11:20 a.m.
Tech shares continued to trade lower, with Samsung Electronics falling 1.27 percent and chipmaker SK hynix moving down 3.1 percent.
Shipbuilders also lost ground, with Hyundai Heavy decreasing 1.65 percent and Samsung Heavy losing 3.62 percent. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering moved down 0.14 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,165.60 won to the U.S. dollar, up 4.40 won from Friday’s close.