Seoul: South Korean stocks traded slightly lower late Tuesday morning, despite gains in big-cap tech shares, as investors moved to cash in recent gains in the final trading session of the year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped 5.92 points, or 0.14 percent, to 4,214.64 as of 11:20 a.m. The index opened lower, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, and had moved within a tight range.

According to Yonhap News Agency, foreign and institutional investors were net sellers, offsetting solid buying by retail investors. The market had risen for the previous two sessions on strong gains in big-cap semiconductor shares, nearing its all-time high of 4,221.87 set on Nov. 3. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics went up 0.75 percent, while chip giant SK hynix jumped 1.41 percent.

However, leading battery maker LG Energy Solution sank 3.03 percent, and major chemical firm LG Chem slid 2.07 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor lost 0.17 percent, and its sister affiliate Kia skidded 0.33 percent. Leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy decreased 1.91 percent, and its rival Hanwha Ocean dipped 1.64 percent.

Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace edged down 0.11, while nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility declined 0.65 percent. Bio giant Samsung Biologics shed 0.64 percent, while Celltrion retreated 0.83 percent. Leading financial group KB Financial dipped 0.32 percent, and No. 1 steelmaker POSCO dropped 3.03 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,434.25 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., down 4.45 won from the previous session.