Seoul shares down 0.04 pct in late-morning trade

South Korean stocks traded 0.04 percent lower late Friday morning after opening higher, dented by losses in blue-chip tech firms, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 0.8 points to 1,956.41 as of 11:20 a.m.

Top-cap tech giant Samsung Electronics lost 0.13 percent, with chipmaker SK hynix falling 1.36 percent.

In contrast, autos gained ground, with Hyundai Motor rising 1.8 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors soaring 2.5 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,100.75 won against the greenback, up 0.85 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)