South Korean stocks traded slightly lower late Thursday morning amid the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate freeze and dovish stance. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) decreased 3.08 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,688.98 around 11:20 a.m. Overnight, the U.S. central bank kept the benchmark rate unchanged, citing recent disappointing inflation, but Fed Chair Jerome Powell said possible rate hikes would be delayed. In Seoul, market heavyweights traded in mixed territory. Top cap Samsung Electronics edged up 0.9 percent, while its chipmaking rival, SK hynix, the second-heaviest share in terms of market cap on the KOSPI, fell 0.4 percent. Hyundai Motor, the country's No. 1 carmaker, dropped 1.39 percent, but its sister Kia gained 0.68 percent. Leading pharmaceutical firm Celltrion rose 0.69 percent, but Samsung Biologics, a biotech unit under Samsung Group, decreased 0.51 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,377.15 won against the U.S. dollar, up 4.85 won from the previous session's c lose. Source: Yonhap News Agency