The South Korean stock market experienced a pullback on Friday, halting a six-session winning streak.
Investors moved to lock in profits from the recent artificial intelligence sector rally as geopolitical uncertainties surrounding Iran resurfaced.
The benchmark KOSPI index closed down 11.42 points, or 0.13%, at 9,052.42 after a volatile session, having earlier climbed as high as 9,385.59.
Trading volume for the day reached 511.1 million shares, with a total value of 65.3 trillion won (approximately $427 billion).
Retail investors were net buyers of 1.7 trillion won worth of shares, while institutional and foreign investors combined were net sellers of 1.6 trillion won.
Led by gains in chip stocks, the KOSPI opened sharply higher but turned lower in the afternoon following news of a delay in planned U.S.-Iran follow-up talks.
The White House announced that Vice President Vance would postpone a scheduled trip to Switzerland for direct talks with Iran.
In individual stock movements, Samsung Electronics shares fell 2.34% to close at 354,000 won, while its rival SK Hynix gained 2.94% to finish at 2,764,000 won.
Hyundai Motor shares advanced 2% to 613,000 won, battery maker LG Energy Solution rose 1.12% to 404,500 won, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace dropped 5.63% to 1,122,000 won.
Biopharmaceutical stocks declined due to profit-taking, with Samsung Biologics falling 3.92% to 1,374,000 won and Celltrion losing 1.9% to 170,300 won.
At the close, the South Korean won was quoted at 1,527 per U.S. dollar, down 0.1 won from the previous session.
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