Seoul stocks ended nearly flat on Wednesday, as investors cashed in gains from a recent rally to 10-year highs, while tech firms such as Hynix Semiconductor fell tracking weaker US peers. But firms with strong business ties to China, such as steel maker POSCO Co Ltd, rose after China's economy showed unexpected strength in the second quarter.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.1 percent to end at 1,074.40. It touched 1,086.95 at one point, its highest intraday level since hitting 1,092.08 on November 30, 1994.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's top maker of memory chips, fell 0.53 percent to 558,000 won, while Hynix Semiconductor Inc fell 5.24 percent to 20,800 won.
Recent strong gainers also dipped, with top local lender Kookmin Bank ending down 0.39 percent to 51,500 won.
POSCO, which sends about 40 percent of its exports to China, rose 1.01 percent to end at 199,500 won.
Trade volume surged to some 963 million shares worth 4.6 trillion won compared to 547.7 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won on Tuesday. Losers edged out gainers by 434 to 304 with 64 titles ending flat.
Foreign investors bought a net 149.5 billion won on the main bourse, data at 0640 GMT showed. Retail investors sold a net 148.7 billion won. Institutional investors sold 51.9 billion won.
The September KOSPI 200 futures index fell 0.30 point to 139.00 and the underlying KOSPI 200 spot index edged down 0.09 point to 138.57.
South Korea's junior and tech heavy Kosdaq market fell 1.69 percent to finish at 521.68.
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