Round-up of South Korean financial markets:
** South Korean shares fell more than 2% on Wednesday, as overseas investors booked profits after a blistering second quarter, even as the country's exports beat forecasts on record chip sales.
** The benchmark KOSPI KRX:KOSPI closed down 173.07 points, or 2.04%, at 8,303.41.
** The index rose 68% in the June quarter, the steepest since 1998. It has risen 97.04% so far this year.
** 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.
** "The index cut losses on strong exports but still ended the session lower on continued profit booking by foreign investors," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.
** Among index heavyweights, chipmaker Samsung Electronics KRX:005930 fell 5.84%, while peer SK Hynix KRX:000660 lost 3.40%. Battery maker LG Energy Solution KRX:373220 slid 3.87%.
** Hyundai Motor KRX:005380 and sister automaker Kia Corp KRX:000270 were down 1.52% and up 2.54%, respectively. Steelmaker POSCO Holdings KRX:005490 shed 0.63%, while drugmaker Samsung BioLogics KRX:207940 rose 0.36%.
** Of the total 918 traded issues, 700 shares advanced, while 193 declined.
** Foreigners were net sellers of shares worth 1.7 trillion won ($1.09 billion).
** The won was quoted at 1,554.9 per dollar on the onshore settlement platform FX_IDC:USDKRW, 0.35% lower than its previous close at 1,549.5.
** In money and debt markets, September futures on three-year treasury bonds (KTBc1) lost 0.33 point to 102.96.
** The most liquid three-year Korean treasury bond yield (KR3YT=RR) rose by 8.1 basis points to 3.788%, while the benchmark 10-year yield TVC:KR10 rose by 9.6 basis points to 4.196%.
($1 = 1,556.3000 won)