South Korean stocks finished nearly unchanged Wednesday as investors sat on their hands due to a gloomy corporate earnings outlook for the third quarter, despite signs of a U.S. economic recovery, analysts said. The South Korean won fell sharply against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 0.38 point, or 0.02 percent, to close at 2,051.2. Trading volume was moderate at 329.4 million shares worth 4.68 trillion won (US$4.59 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering losers, 407 to 388.