Seoul: Shares, won end down as Dec US rate hike looms large

[SEOUL] South Korean shares and won lost ground on Thursday after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Yellen bolstered expectations that US interest rates could be raised as early as December.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) trimmed early losses and closed down 0.2 per cent at 2,049.42 points.

Foreigners turned net sellers for the first time in four days, offloading a net 28.5 billion won worth of shares in the main board, preliminary data showed.

On the currency market, the South Korean won closed local trade down 0.6 per cent to 1,138.5 per dollar.

REUTERS