Seoul: South Korean stocks traded lower late Thursday morning as investors hunted for profits following a three-day winning streak amid eased tariff woes. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) had lost 4.07 points, or 0.15 percent, to 2,636.50 as of 11:20 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the index had risen for three straight sessions from Monday on optimism driven by a trade agreement between the United States and China earlier this week. Major shares traded weaker, with chip giant SK hynix falling 0.24 percent and top carmaker Hyundai Motor dropping 1.12 percent.

Leading oil refinery SK innovation lost 1 percent, and major cosmetics maker AmorePacific retreated 1.38 percent. Naver, the No. 1 online portal operator, declined 1.2 percent, and flagship air carrier Korean Air decreased 1.32 percent.

However, tech giant Samsung Electronics rose 0.78 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution went up 0.32 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,400.9 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., up 19 won from the previous session.