Seoul shares down 0.18 pct on global economic woes

South Korean stocks ended 0.18 percent lower Wednesday as foreign investors offloaded shares amid ongoing global economic risk factors, analysts said. The South Korean won gained ground against the greenback.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 3.48 points to 1,913.66 after a choppy trading session. Trading volume was low at 274.6 million shares worth 4.36 trillion won ($4.03 billion), with gainers beating decliners 407 to 368.

Analysts said investors have become tolerant to persistent economic concerns overseas, limiting fluctuations.

"Both the falling crude oil prices and the Greek euro exit woes are ongoing matters, but the market seems to be gradually shifting its focus from those risks to other business factors," said Min Byung-kyu of Yuanta Securities Korea Co.

Oil prices continued to fall after hitting their lowest levels in over four years, but market watchers say that the local bourse was not as shaken. 

"The downward momentum on the South Korean stock market as a result of plunging oil prices will be limited," said Kim Jung-hyun, an analyst at IBK Securities Co.

Foreigners offloaded a net 183.6 billion won while retail investors scooped up 71.65 billion won. Institutions bought more shares than they sold at 9.2 billion won.

Tech shares closed mixed, as industry leader Samsung Electronics gained 0.45 percent to 1,345,000 won while chipmaker SK hynix shed 0.2 percent to 48,900 won. LG Electronics advanced 0.98 percent to 62,100 won.

Flat screen maker LG Display jumped 2.84 percent to end at 36,250 won. Prices soared to a 52-week high of 36,850 won mid-session on the back of the company's positive fourth-quarter earnings outlook. 

SK Telecom, the country's top mobile carrier, backtracked 1.49 percent to 264,000 won, and No. 3 LG Uplus also surrendered 2.83 percent to 12,000 won. KT added 0.17 percent to close at 30,000 won.

Carmakers closed in negative territory, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors both moving down 1.11 percent to 177,500 won and 53,600 won, respectively. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis tumbled 3.95 percent to 255,000 won.

Air carriers finished bullish as investors anticipated higher earnings on the back of low oil prices. No. 1 carrier Korean Air Lines Co. moved up 1.43 percent to 46,000 won, and Asiana Airlines Inc., which touched a 52-week high during the morning session, added 1.21 percent to close at 7,550 won. 

Hyundai Glovis fell for the second day after Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo and his son failed in their attempt to sell off their stakes in the logistics firm via a block deal. Shares in the company plummeted 9.22 percent and ended at 231,500 won.

The local currency ended at 1,082.20 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.30 won from Tuesday's close.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, ended higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys decreased 5.0 basis points to 1.974 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds also fell 6.7 basis points to 2.089 percent. (Yonhap)