SEOUL, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares plunged by more than 5 percent Tuesday, extending their losing streak to a fifth session, as technology stocks tumbled amid renewed woes over the artificial intelligence (AI) sector and inflation.
The Korean won was trading lower against the U.S. dollar.
After opening 3.1 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 348.89 points, or 5.46 percent, to 6,035.35.
Foreigners sold a net 4.51 trillion won (US$3.35 billion) worth of stocks, while institutions and individuals bought a net 1.69 trillion won and 2.23 trillion won, respectively.
The Korea Exchange (KRX), South Korea's bourse operator, triggered a sell-side sidecar during morning trading after the KOSPI fell more than 5 percent for at least one minute.
Trade volume was moderate at 399.87 million shares worth 26.79 trillion won, with decliners outnumbering advancers 628 to 246.
Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.38 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite falling 0.44 percent.
Chipmakers faced a deep slump after reports of rapid tech progress by Chinese rival ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT).
Investors now await the U.S. consumer price index (CPI) report due Wednesday (U.S. time) for clues on the Federal Reserve's policy outlook ahead of its October rate-setting meeting.
Financial data is displayed on a screen inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Oct. 13, 2026, as the Korea Exchange (KRX) activated a sell-side sidecar after the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell more than 5 percent during morning trading. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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