Seoul: Stocks close at lowest in 5-1/2 months, won down

[SEOUL]South Korean shares ended at its lowest in five-and-half months on Friday in choppy trade, as investors flocked to safe-haven assets, selling off local equities.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed down 1.4 per cent at 1,835.28 points, its lowest closing level since Aug 24, 2015. For the week, stocks tumbled 4.3 per cent.

Foreign investors weighed on the index, dumping a net 298.2 billion won (S$344.08 million) worth of KOSPI shares, preliminary data showed.

The South Korean won was quoted at 1,211.7 to the dollar at the conclusion of onshore trade, down 0.8 per cent compared with Thursday's close of 1,202.5.

On a weekly basis, the won lost 1.2 per cent.

REUTERS