SEOUL: South Korean stocks traded 0.11 percent lower late Thursday morning as downbeat oil prices weighed heavily on the market.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 2.08 points to 1,946.16 as of 11:20 a.m.
Petrochemical firms went south, with industry leader LG Chem sliding 1.11 percent and Lotte Chemical losing 0.42 percent.
Top oil refiner SK Innovation dipped 1.19 percent and No. 3 S-Oil skidded 1.19 percent.
Air carriers traded in positive terrain on falling oil prices, with No. 1 Korean Air Lines rising 3.12 percent and Asiana Airlines jumping 4.40 percent.
The local currency was changing hands at 1,175.45 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 3.85 won from Wednesday’s close.