South Korean stocks closed lower Friday as investors sought profit-taking after the benchmark index set new yearly records this week, analysts said. The South Korean won lost ground against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 3.02 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,073.10. Trading volume was low at 266 million shares worth 4.93 trillion won (US$4.78 billion), with gainers outpacing losers, 507 to 295.