Seoul shares suffered their first loss in five sessions on Tuesday, hit by worries about the impact of a strengthening won currency on profits at exporters such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor.
POSCO Co Ltd fell 3.23 percent to 239,500 won amid worries about upcoming iron ore negotiations and as investors locked in gains after the world's fifth-biggest steel maker touched a record high in the prior session.
But gains in KT&G Corp, in the midst of take-over tussle with Carl Icahn and Warren Lichtenstein, helped cap broader losses. Hana Financial Group also rose amid hopes of improving chances it will win a battle to buy Korea Exchange Bank (KEB).
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.75 percent to end at 1,336.65. Trading volumes have thinned with 288 million shares worth 2.5 trillion won ($2.58 billion) changing hands on Tuesday compared with a daily average of 360.6 million in February and 486.2 million in January.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's biggest memory chip maker, fell 0.47 percent to 635,000 won. KEB shares dropped 3.04 percent to 12,750 won as US buyout fund Lone Star is set to pick a preferred bidder to buy its controlling stake in South Korea's fifth-biggest bank as early as Tuesday.
On the other hand, Kookmin Bank, another bidder for KEB, fell 0.13 percent to 74,800 won. Shares in SK Corp, the country's biggest oil refiner, fell 1.63 percent to 60,200 won.
Decliners outnumbered gainers by 463 to 265 with 86 titles ending flat. Foreign investors bought a net 60.2 billion won in shares on the main bourse, while retail investors bought a net 41.5 billion won. However, institutional investors sold a net 114.3 billion won.
The June KOSPI 200 futures index fell 1.80 points to 173.15, while the underlying KOSPI 200 spot index lost 1.39 points to 172.87. South Korea's junior and tech heavy Kosdaq market rose 0.32 percent to finish at 657.99.
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