Shares down 0.33 % in late-morning trade

Korean stocks traded 0.33 percent lower late Tuesday morning, led by construction firms and machineries, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 5.90 points to 1,783.54 as of 11:20 a.m.

Top builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction plunged more than 4 percent and heavy equipmentmaker Doosan Infracore slumped 2.6 percent.

In contrast, some blue chips drifted into positive territory, with automaker Hyundai Motor rising 1.3 percent and mobile carrier SK Telecom spiking 6 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,148.95 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 2.35 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap)