Seoul shares ended down on Thursday, pressured by lingering uncertainties about US and European debt problems, while shipbuilders lost ground following weak quarterly results by Hyundai Heavy Industries. Auto shares tumbled on profit-taking and tech issues dropped after rallying the previous session following Apple's staggering quarterly earnings.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.46 percent or 9.91 points to end the session at 2,145.04 points. KOSPI 200 September futures fell 1.25 points to 280.95 points and the KOSPI 200 spot index lost 1.21 points to 279.20. The junior Kosdaq market fell 0.39 percent to 524.54.
Foreign investors sold a net 186.3 billion Korean won ($176.5 million) worth of stocks, marking their eighth consecutive session of selling. Shipbuilders extended losses after the world's largest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy reported a 10 percent fall in second-quarter operating profit after the closing bell yesterday.
Hyundai Heavy lost 5.09 percent, while Samsung Heavy Industries dropped 2.89 percent and Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering fell 0.65 percent. Chemicals, which had been one of the KOSPI's best recent performers, were also weak. LG Chem plunged 6.48 percent after the country's biggest chemicals company posted smaller-than-expected quarterly profits.
Autos lost ground, with Hyundai Motor down 1.06 percent and Kia Motors declining 1.83 percent. In contrast, banks and builders gained after Hana Financial Group and Daewoo Engineering & Construction reported solid earnings. Technology issues traded lower, with the world's top computer memory chipmaker Samsung Electronics down 1.06 percent.
Second-ranked Hynix Semiconductor retreated 2.27 percent after it predicted weaker demand stemming from a global economic slowdown after announcing a 56 percent slump in its quarterly profit.