Roundup: S.Korean shares fall on foreign sales

South Korean shares fell for four straight sessions Wednesday as foreigners kept their selling trend for two days in a row on worries about the South Korean currency's ascent to the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dipped 5.04 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,142.63 at the close. Trading volume stood at 453.87 million shares worth 6.56 trillion won (6. 14 billion U.S. dollars).

The local currency's recent appreciation boosted concerns that domestic exporters may face reduction in overseas earnings and weak price competitiveness in overseas markets.

The South Korean currency finished at 1,068.6 won against the greenback, up 1.4 won from Tuesday's close.

The won/yen exchange rate stayed below the 9-won level per yen for two days in a row.

Investors also refrained from taking active positions ahead of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)'s regular meeting.

Market watchers said investors were seeking to correct positions after a sharp advance in early 2015, noting that stocks are in the process of natural correction.

Foreigners reduced stock holdings by 62 billion won, and institutional investors offloaded shares worth 135 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 230 billion won worth of shares.

Large-cap shares ended mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics climbed 1.4 percent after announcing the better-than- expected first-quarter earnings results. Top automaker Hyundai Motor slid 0.9 percent and the biggest auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis slid 0.4 percent.

Bond prices ended lower. Yields on the liquid three-year treasury notes rose 1.3 basis points to 1.842 percent, and the return on the benchmark 10-year government bonds added 1.3 basis point to 2.380 percent. Endi