South Korean stocks snapped their three-day rise Tuesday on heightened uncertainties ahead of Seoul's tariff negotiations with Washington later this week. The Korean won was trading higher against the US dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 1.78 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 2,486.64, ending its three-day losing streak.
Trade volume was moderate at 408 million shares worth 6.1 trillion won ($4.3 billion), with winners slightly outnumbering losers 460 to 414.
Foreigners unloaded 243 billion won worth of local shares, while retail investors purchased 166.4 billion won.
Overnight, Wall Street lost ground as President Donald Trump ramped up criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, saying the US economy could slow down unless the Fed immediately lowers its interest rate.
In Seoul, investors remained cautious on lingering uncertainties ahead of South Korea's planned tariff negotiations with the US this week and the beginning of the corporate earnings season, analysts said.
South Korea will hold "2+2 trade consultations" with the US, attended by the countries' finance and trade ministers, on Thursday to discuss tariff issues.
The Trump administration slapped Seoul with 25 percent reciprocal tariffs earlier this month, though it has paused their implementation for 90 days.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.72 percent to 55,000 won, and chip giant SK hynix pulled back 1.59 percent to 173,800 won.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor dropped 0.91 percent to 185,600 won and its sister Kia went down 1.36 percent to 86,800 won.
Krafton, the developer of hit game PUBG: Battlegrounds, also declined 1.43 percent to 379,000 won.
On the other hand, leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy jumped 3.27 percent to 363,500 won and its rival Hanwha Ocean gained 1.41 percent to 79,000 won.
Internet portal operator Naver soared 3.31 percent to 193,700 won and Kakao, the operator of the country's dominant mobile messenger, went up 0.77 percent to 39,210 won.
The local currency was quoted at 1,420.6 won against the US dollar at 3:30 a.m., up 1.5 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
