Korea's financial market was roiled Friday by Britain's exit from the European Union, with the local stock market plunging over 3 percent and the local currency nosediving.
The country's benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 66.62 points, or 3.35 percent, to 1,918.58 as of 2:00 p.m. From a session earlier, the Korean won fell 29.00 won, or 2.5 percent, against the U.S. dollar to trade at 1,170.05 won.
The main index turned lower on Friday morning as early vote results on Britain's EU membership withdrawal showed a tight race. The British broadcaster BBC's projections that Britons voted to leave the 28-nation bloc sent it lower. Most large-cap stocks declined across the board.
Bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. shed 3.01 percent, top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co fell 1.77 percent, and state-utility Korea Electric Power Corp. declined 2.22 percent. (Yonhap)
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