South Korean shares ended virtually unchanged on Wednesday in a session marked by caution about earnings, although Kookmin Bank and other lenders rose on expectations for solid second-quarter profits.
Only 151 million shares had traded in the main stock exchange by 0645 GMT, making it the lowest-traded session since May 24, 1999, when 134.7 million shares changed hands.
After turning to net buyers earlier in the session, foreign investors ended the session net selling just 916 million won ($960,900), raising some hopes they will soon reverse what is now a 12-session selling streak. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.05 percent to end at 1,279.08 points.
Trading volumes have fallen sharply since mid-May following a downturn in global markets amid concerns about weakening global economic growth, while inflationary pressures have created uncertainty about the interest rate outlook.
Recent outperformers fell, with wireless operator SK Telecom ending down 1.77 percent to 194,000 won ahead of its quarterly results due out on Tuesday.
Hynix Semiconductor Inc fell 0.63 percent to 31,800 won. Shares in the memory chip maker are still up 3.4 percent this month, compared with a 1.2 percent fall in the KOSPI.
Flat panel maker LG.Philips LCD Co Ltd fell 1.51 percent to 32,700 won amid worries over panel prices after Taiwan's AU Optronics Corp and US maker of glass for LCD television and computers Corning Inc cut their earnings forecasts on Tuesday. Kookmin Bank, the country's biggest lender, rose 1.89 percent to 81,000 won.
Oil refiner SK Corp rose 0.77 percent to 65,700 won a day after posting a gain in operating profit. Gainers edged out decliners by 397 to 327 with 94 titles ending flat. Retail investors sold a net 58 billion won, while institutional investors bought a net 53.4 billion won. The September KOSPI 200 futures index fell 0.65 point to 166.20, while the underlying KOSPI 200 spot index lost 0.15 point to 166.10. South Korea's junior and tech heavy Kosdaq market rose 0.32 percent to finish at 554.08.