Seoul shares ended down 1.3 percent on Thursday as investors grew jittery amid signs the US economic recovery was fading, while debt problems lingered in Europe. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index declined 1.27 percent or 27.14 points to 2,114.20 points.
KOSPI 200 June futures fell 4.65 points to 278.95 points and the KOSPI 200 spot index shed 3.99 points to 278.76. The junior Kosdaq market ended down 1.12 percent at 477.83. "Signs that the US economic recovery may be slowing down and continued worries about European debt issues are holding investors back, especially ahead of options expiry next week," said Kim Hyoung-ryoul, a market analyst at NH Investment & Securities.
Foreign investors were sellers of a net 40.4 billion Korean won ($37.5 million) worth of stocks, snapping two straight sessions of buying. The market is likely to move around the 2,100-point level through this week, said Chung Seung-jae, a market analyst at Mirae Asset Securities, referring to the KOSPI's 60-day moving average.
Shares in Samsung Electronics, the world's No 1 memory chip maker, declined 3.1 percent and Hynix Semiconductor, the world's No 2, slipped 3 percent. Shares in LG Electronics, the world's No 3 handset maker, fell 4.4 percent and LG Display, the world's No 2 panel maker, lost 3.8 percent.
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