KOSPI slides to 1-month closing low on US data

SEOUL: Seoul shares fell more than 1.5 percent on Monday to a one-month closing low after a sharp slowdown in US jobs figures placed investors even further on the defensive ahead of a slew of economic data from China and US corporate earnings.

Builders underperformed, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction falling 4.5 percent while Samsung Engineering tumbled 4.7 percent.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 1.57 percent to close at 1,997.08 points.