Seoul shares down 0.68 pct in late-morning trade

South Korean stocks traded 0.68 percent lower late Friday morning as investors took to the sidelines ahead of a U.S. jobs data release this weekend, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 13.25 points to 1,948.69 as of 11:20 a.m.

Large caps were mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.31 percent but auto-parts maker Hyundai Mobis gained 1.4 percent.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction sank 6.98 percent on rumors about a rights issue.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,091.25 won to the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 2.25 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)