Seoul shares almost flat late Tues. morning

South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Tuesday morning as investors remained cautious ahead of the releases of major U.S. data later this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) had lost 1.99 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,616.31 as of 11:20 a.m. On Monday, the Wall Street finished mixed, as investors awaited the U.S. consumer price index and retail sales data to be released beginning Wednesday (U.S. time), which will give further clues on the world's biggest economy's direction. In Seoul, market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.4 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix increased 1.69 percent, tracking U.S. AI chip giant Nvidia's overnight gain. Financial firms also traded in positive territory, with KB Financial up 2.91 percent and Shinhan Financial up 1.85 percent. Samsung Life Insurance soared more than 4 percent. But major bio firms lost ground, with Samsung Biologics down 1.37 percent and Celltrion down 3.6 percent. Shipping firm HD Hyundai Heavy also slid 2.16 p ercent. Top internet portal operator Naver retreated 2.12 percent, and Kakao, the operator of the country's top mobile messenger, declined 1.89 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,370 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2 won from the previous session's close. Source: Yonhap News Agency