SEOUL, South Korean stocks traded nearly flat late Monday morning ahead of a rate-setting meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) had added 1 point, or 0.04 percent, to 2,518.85 as of 11:20 a.m.
After opening slightly higher, investors sat on the sidelines as they awaited clues over the future monetary direction of the Fed, although the central bank is widely anticipated to keep the key rate steady.
In Seoul, tech shares traded mixed, with Samsung Electronics remaining unchanged, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 0.78 percent. LG Energy Solution fell 0.12 percent, and Samsung SDI slid 1.11 percent.
Pharmaceutical firms traded mixed as well, with Samsung Biologics decreasing 0.56 percent while Celltrion climbed 4 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,318.5 won against the U.S. dollar, down 11.7 won from the previous session's close.
Source: Yonhap News Agency