South Korean stocks traded 0.26 percent lower late Friday morning, led by losses in automakers and financial firms, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 4.88 points to 1,872.72 as of 11:20 a.m.
Hyundai Motor tumbled 4.5 percent, with its smaller affiliate Kia Motors also dropping 4.2 percent. No. 4 lender Shinhan Financial and leading life insurer Samsung Life Insurance lost ground, slipping 1.4 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively.
But chemical companies and oil refiners were bullish. LG Chem rose 1.3 percent and SK Innovation climbed 1.4 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,121.10 won as of 11:20 a.m., up 1.00 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)
