Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares fell more than 2% on Wednesday, weighed down by foreign investor selling to book profits, even as exports beat forecasts on record chip sales.
** The benchmark KOSPI KRX:KOSPI was down 191.12 points, or 2.25%, at 8,285.36, as of 0154 GMT.
** It rose 68% in the June quarter, the biggest since 1998.
** "Foreign selling in the first half hit a record 148 trillion won, but foreign investors' holding of KOSPI shares still rose 40% from 35% at the beginning of the year in terms of market cap," said Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities.
** "It means that there is more room for selling of chipmaker stocks to book profits," Han said.
** South Korea's exports expanded at the strongest pace in nearly half a century last month, smashing forecasts, on a surge in chip sales propelled by the global boom in AI investment.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics KRX:005930 fell 4.34%, while peer SK Hynix KRX:000660 lost 3.62%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution KRX:373220 slid 2.90%.
** Hyundai Motor KRX:005380 and sister automaker Kia Corp KRX:000270 were down 2.22% and up 1.16%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings KRX:005490 shed 0.79%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics KRX:207940 fell 2.01%.
** Of the total 915 traded issues, 685 shares advanced, while 204 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.1 trillion won ($705.85 million).
** The won was quoted at 1,557.8 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform FX_IDC:USDKRW, 0.53% lower than its previous close at 1,549.5.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield (KR3YT=RR) rose by 6.0 basis points to 3.767%, while the benchmark 10-year yield TVC:KR10 rose by 6.9 basis points to 4.169%.
($1 = 1,558.4100 won)