Seoul: Stocks, won slip ahead of US payrolls data

[SEOUL] South Korean shares and won posted modest losses on Friday as market participants positioned ahead of US jobs data for clues as to what Federal Reserve will do at the bank's next monetary policy meeting in December.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged 0.4 per cent lower to 2,041.07 points. On a weekly basis, the KOSPI gained 0.6 per cent.

Domestic institutions and foreigners offloaded a net 144 billion won (S$177.5 million) and 50 billion won worth of KOSPI shares, respectively.

The South Korean won was quoted at 1,141.9 to the dollar at the conclusion of onshore trade, compared to Thursday's close of 1,138.5.

REUTERS