Seoul stocks finished flat on Tuesday, as gains in chip makers such as Samsung Electronics were offset by concerns about weakening corporate earnings momentum in the third quarter.
Profit-taking from recent gains further burdened the market, analysts said, as some investors opted to sell ahead of the country's three-day Chusok holiday early next week. The week before South Korea's Thanksgiving holiday is traditionally a slow one for local stock markets.
The benchmark Korea Composite Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 0.03 percent to close at 857.15 points.
South Korea's main stock index has rebounded from a drop in July to rise 16.6 percent since the beginning of August.
Oil was trading at $46.34 a barrel in Asia, almost unchanged from its close in New York and just over $3 a barrel below its all-time high of $49.40 set on August 20.
Trade volume reached 358.4 million shares worth 2.18 trillion won compared to 332 million shares worth 2 trillion won on Monday. Gainers edged out losers by 366 to 348 with 92 titles ending flat.
Foreign investors bought a net 162.2 billion won in shares on the main bourse and retail investors sold a net 198.4 billion won. Institutional investors bought a net 40 billion won worth.
The December KOSPI 200 futures index rose 0.10 point to 111.15 and the underlying KOSPI 200 spot index added 0.04 point to 110.42.
The over-the-counter Kosdaq lost 0.2 percent to finish at 372.19.