Seoul shares slipped on Tuesday as autos and techs gave up recent gains, but losses were tempered by rises in tour issues and crude oil refiners that outperformed on the won's recent strength. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) ended down 0.26 percent at 1,855.97 points.
Key blue chip auto and techs retreated. Shares in Samsung Electronics, the world's No 1 memory chip maker, fell 1.3 percent and Hyundai Motor, the country's biggest automaker, dipped 3.1 percent. Airlines and tourism issues continued to outperform on the back of the won's recent strength, pointing to an increase in demand for overseas tours and lower jet fuel import costs. Asiana Airlines Inc rose 2.7 percent and tour agency Modetour Network Inc gained 3.3 percent.
SK Energy Co Ltd rose 2.4 percent as its earnings outlook strengthened and amid expectations for its lithium-ion battery venture, analysts said. Other crude refiners also advanced on the back of the won currency's recent strength. Shares in S-Oil gained 0.7 percent. GS Holdings, the holding firm of GS Caltex, South Korea's No 2 crude oil refiner, climbed 2.5 percent.
But banking stocks retreated, led by Shinhan Financial Group Co Ltd, down 1.9 percent. The KOSPI 200 December futures index ended down 0.15 points at 242.20. The KOSPI 200 spot index fell 0.79 points to 240.59. The junior Kosdaq market climbed 0.3 percent to 487.74.