SEOUL: South Korean stocks trade 0.49 percent lower late Wednesday morning as institutions offloaded their holdings, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 10.03 points to 2,031 as of 11:20 a.m.
Market heavyweights were trading in negative territory, with POSCO and Kia Motors each falling 2.45 and 1.88 percent.
Food business conglomerate Orion gained 3.54 percent on hopes its overseas businesses will shore up sales.
The local currency was trading at 1,103.6 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 5.9 won from Tuesday’s close.