Stocks down amid virus concerns and expiration uncertainties

The key stock index tumbled more than 1.5 percent Thursday amid virus concerns and uncertainties from the expiration of options and futures.

A screen in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows the Kospi closing at 3,114.7 points on Thursday, down 48.29 points, or 1.53 percent, from the previous trading day. [NEWS1]

The key stock index tumbled more than 1.5 percent Thursday amid virus concerns and uncertainties from the expiration of options and futures. The won fell against the dollar.

The benchmark Kospi dipped 48.29 points, or 1.53 percent, to close at 3,114.7 points.

Trading volume was moderate at about 910 million shares worth some 17.3 trillion won ($14.8 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 655 to 214.

Foreigners sold a net 320 billion won, and institutions offloaded a net 936 billion won, while retail investors bought 1.2 trillion won.

The Kospi opened sharply lower as Korea's daily coronavirus cases remained in the 2,000s for the second straight day Thursday despite the highest level of virus curbs in most parts of the country.

Health authorities warned new infections may further increase ahead of the Chuseok holiday, which, including the weekend, runs from Sept. 18-22 this year. Millions normally travel across the country for family gatherings over the autumn harvest holiday.

Stock prices partially fell from the influence of the quadruple expiration of futures and options.

"Uncertainties from the expiration day for stock options seem to have stretched the Kospi's losses, particularly driving down most of the large caps," Mirae Asset Securities analyst Park Gwang-nam said.

Samsung Electronics lost 1.31 percent to 75,300 won, and chipmaker SK hynix declined 2.83 percent to 103,000 won.

Internet portal operator Naver retreated 2.56 percent to 399,000 won, and its rival Kakao plummeted 7.22 percent to 128,500 won in the wake of the ruling Democratic Party lawmakers' criticism over the market dominance of giant platform businesses.

Automaker Hyundai Motor decreased 2.11 percent to 208,500 won, and chemical firm LG Chem lost 1.06 percent to 748,000 won.

Pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics dropped 1.93 percent to 913,000 won, while KakaoBank moved down 0.41 percent to 72,000 won.

The Kosdaq fell 2.6 points, or 0.25 percent, to close at 1,034.62.

The local currency closed at 1,169.2 won against the dollar, up 2.5 won from the previous session's close.

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed mixed. The yield on three-year government bonds added 0.5 basis point to 1.498 percent, and the yield on the benchmark 10-year government bond lost 2.8 basis points to 1.34 percent.

BY LEE TAE-HEE, YONHAP [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]