Index slips down amid investor caution
The benchmark Kospi closed at 2,391.77, down 4.23 points, or 0.18 percent, from the previous trading day.
Seoul shares closed lower as investors took a breather after the market rose to a record level in the previous session, analysts said. The index closed at a fresh record high of 2,396.00 points.
Analysts added that investors may continue to take a wait-and-see stance for the time being, amid the release of second-quarter earnings reports coupled with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting.
Foreigners bought a net 89 billion won ($77.7 million), while institutions sold a net 320 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 180 billion won.
Mobile carriers closed bearish, with SK Telecom falling 1.15 percent to 257,000 won and KT losing 1.37 percent to 32,450 won. LG U+ shed 2.25 percent, ending at 15,200 won.
Steelmakers were also among losers, with top steelmaker Posco moving down 0.65 percent to 306,000 won and Korea Zinc losing 0.54 percent to 458,000 won.
Carmakers finished higher, with industry leader Hyundai Motor increasing 0.68 percent to 149,000 won and its sister company Kia Motors rising 0.54 percent to 37,000 won. Top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis added 0.41 percent to 244,500 won.
But top market cap Samsung Electronics closed 1.8 percent higher, ending at a new record high of 2,494,000 won on the back of a brighter outlook over its earnings.
The local currency closed at 1,145.10 won against the U.S. dollar, up 6.00 won from the previous session’s close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed mixed. The yield on three-year Treasuries remained flat at 1.762 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond lost 0.3 basis points to 1.958 percent.
BY KIM YOUNG-NAM, YONHAP [kim.youngnam@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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