S.Korean shares fall for 5 days ahead of Brexit referendum

South Korean shares ended in negative territory for five sessions in a row on Wednesday amid worries about a British referendum on Brexit, or British exit from the European Union (EU).

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 3.20 points, or 0.16 percent, to settle at 1,968.83. Trading volume stood at 371.5 million shares worth 4.49 trillion won (3.83 billion U.S. dollars).

Concerns remained about external uncertainties as British people are set to vote on whether to give up its EU membership at a referendum scheduled for June 23.

The U.S. Federal Reserve would announce results of its monthly rate-setting meeting on Wednesday, boosting wait-and-see sentiment among investors.

The Fed is widely expected to delay its interest rate hike from the highly anticipated June to September given the recent worsening of labor market conditions in the United States.

Foreign and institutional investors sold stocks worth 75 billion won and 144 billion won respectively, while individual investors raised stock holdings by 167 billion won.

Large-cap shares ended mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics advanced 2.4 percent, and memory chip giant SK Hynix climbed 3.1 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor declined 2.2 percent, but the biggest auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis jumped 4.9 percent. The state-run power supplier Korea Electric Power Corp. Slumped 3.2 percent, and leading cosmetics maker Amore Pacific shed 0.4 percent.

The tech-savvy KOSDAQ index added 1.72 points, or 0.25 percent, to close at 694.66 as foreigners turned net buyers in the market.

South Korea's currency finished at 1,173.3 won against the greenback, down 0.1 won from Tuesday's close.

Bond prices ended mixed. Yields on the liquid three-year treasury notes added 0.2 basis points to 1.339 percent, but returns on the benchmark 10-year government bonds dipped 1.3 basis points to 1.622 percent. Endit