Kospi opens lower as market heavyweights dip

Screens in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows stock markets open on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Stocks started lower Tuesday as investors hunted for profits following a recent rally.

The Kospi retreated 9.74 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,670.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The main bourse soared more than 1 percent Friday and Monday on the back of strong foreign buying.

Market heavyweights traded in negative territory across the board.

Samsung Electronics fell 0.41 percent and LG Energy Solution lost 0.5 percent.

Hyundai Motor dropped 0.79 percent, and major banking group KB Financial Group declined 0.93 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,337.7 won against the dollar, up 2.5 won from the previous session's close.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG, YONHAP [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]