Seoul stocks ended a touch lower on Tuesday, as investors booked profits from five consecutive sessions of gains, and as LG Card shares fell sharply following LG Group's refusal to join a bailout for the ailing card issuer. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.17 percent to close at 882.82. "Some investors here saw momentum in US markets fading and took the opportunity to book some profits," said Yoo Seung-min, an analyst at Samsung Securities.
LG Card Co Ltd dropped 8.7 percent to end at 14,700 won on concerns it could face liquidation after former parent LG Group rejected a call by creditors to join a $1.13 billion bailout plan for the country's top credit card issuer.
But many investors remained hopeful a deal would be reached, analysts said.
Trade volume reached 348.6 million shares worth 2 trillion won compared to 360 million shares worth 1.8 trillion won on Monday. Losers edged out gainers by 446 to 261 with 87 titles ending flat.
Foreign investors bought a net of 10.5 billion won in shares on the main bourse.
The March KOSPI 200 futures index rose 0.40 point to 111.55 and the underlying KOSPI 200 spot index gained 0.06 point to 113.51.
The over-the-counter Kosdaq lost 0.59 percent to finish at 380.47.