South Korean stocks ended lower Friday amid persisting woes over uncertainties sparked by the US administration's continuous shifts in its tariff plans. The Korean won was trading lower against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 12.68 points, or 0.49 percent, to close at 2,563.48.
Trade volume was moderate at 558.4 million shares worth 11.8 trillion won ($8.2 billion), with losers outpacing winners 541 to 348.
Individual investors sold a combined 186.7 billion won worth of local shares, while foreigners and institutions purchased 49.8 billion won and 30 billion won, respectively.
Experts said the Kospi lost ground as it echoed losses on Wall Street, which can be attributed to uncertainties tied to the Donald Trump administration's tariff policies.
Overnight, major US indexes sank as investor sentiment soured after the Trump administration went back and forth on its plan to impose tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, increasing uncertainties in the global economy.
The S&P 500 dipped 1.78 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.99 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq slid 2.61 percent.
After imposing 25 percent tariffs on Mexican and Canadian goods Tuesday, Washington announced a decision the next day to offer a one-month exemption of duties on vehicles coming into the country through the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Then on Thursday, the US administration also announced a delay of tariffs on a broader range of Mexican and Canadian goods covered under the USMCA, until early next month.
Investors were also waiting for the release of the US jobs data, which will give clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy direction.
In Seoul, market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.1 percent to 53,700 won, while its chipmaking rival SK hynix was flat at 192,400 won.
Two bio giants, Samsung Biologics and Celltrion, slipped 2.65 percent and 2.18 percent to 1.1 million won and 184,000 won, respectively.
Internet portal operator Naver dipped 2.74 percent to 213,000 won, and Kakao, the operator of the country's top mobile messenger, slid nearly 3 percent to 43,750 won.
Meritz Financial shot down 6.45 percent to 119,000 won.
On the other hand, major defense firm Hanwha Aerospace soared 7.82 percent to 731,000 won. Steel giant Posco Holdings also shot up 7.28 percent to 317,000 won on expectations of South Korea's participation in the Alaska gas pipeline project.
Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution increased 1.5 percent to 339,000 won.
The local currency was trading at 1,446.8 won against the greenback at 3:30 p.m., down 4.4 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
herald@heraldcorp.com
