Seoul: South Korean stocks lost ground late Monday morning over heightened Middle Eastern uncertainties following the United States' bombing attacks on key Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 15.87 points, or 0.53 percent, to 3,005.97 as of 11:20 a.m.
According to Yonhap News Agency, engaging itself in the Israel-Iran conflict, the U.S. used B-2 bombers to launch air strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday. President Donald Trump described the operation as "successful" and claimed the Iranian sites were "obliterated."
Most blue chips lost ground, with market heavyweight Samsung Electronics plunging 2.35 percent and chip rival SK hynix shedding 0.1 percent. Top bio company Samsung Biologics dropped 2.07 percent, and leading battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution plummeted 3.77 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor retreated 3.57 percent.
In contrast, refiners and internet portal operators advanced. Leading refiner SK Innovation rose 0.2 percent, and top internet portal firm Naver gained 3.34 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,380.7 won against the greenback at 11:20 a.m., sharply down 15.1 won from the previous session.