SEOUL: South Korean stocks traded 1.3 percent lower late Tuesday morning, led by a drop in big-cap tech and auto shares, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 26.52 points to 2,015.8 as of 11:20 a.m.
Tech behemoth Samsung Electronics backtracked 1.65 percent, and chipmaker SK hynix plunged 3.58 percent. LG Electronics sank 2.32 percent.
Autos also led the decline. Industry leader Hyundai Motor lost 2.56 percent and auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis also moved down 2.33 percent. Kia Motors tumbled 3.26 percent.
The local currency was trading nearly unchanged at 1,116.95 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 0.35 won from Monday’s close.
