Seoul shares down 0.82 pct in late-morning trade

South Korean stocks traded 0.82 percent lower late Thursday morning as foreigners and institutions scaled back their holdings, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped

16.45 points to 1,983.28 as of 11:20 a.m.

Large caps were mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.31 percent, but chip giant SK hynix added 1.59 percent.

The local currency ended at 1,101.65 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 4.25 won from the previous close. (Yonhap News)