Seoul: South Korean stocks continued to trade lower late Tuesday morning as the weak Korean won and uncertainties over the new Trump administration’s policies weighed down on investor sentiment. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index had fallen 14.04 points, or 0.55 percent, to 2,517.62 as of 11:20 a.m. The index briefly dipped below 2,500 during the morning session.
According to Yonhap News Agency, top tech giant Samsung Electronics shed 1.82 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slid 2.13 percent. Pharmaceutical companies traded lower, with Samsung Biologics falling 1.99 percent and Celltrion losing 1.72 percent. Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor decreased 0.71 percent, while auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis gained 2.55 percent. Kia fell 1.37 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,400.5 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., down 5.8 won from the previous session.