Shares trade 0.29% lower in late-morning trade

Korean stocks traded 0.29 percent lower late Monday morning, dented by losses in tech and shipyard issues, analysts said.

After starting 0.41 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 5.30 points to 1,807.59 as of 11:20 a.m.

Top-cap Samsung Electronics shed 0.18 percent and chipmaker SK hynix declined more than 2 percent, with the world's largest shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries slumping nearly 3 percent.

In contrast, autos trended in positive territory, with No.1 carmaker Hyundai Motor climbing 0.88 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,148.20 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 1.80 won from Friday's close.

(Yonhap)