Roundup: S. Korean shares fall on China's manufacturing data

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South Korean shares fell for the first time in three sessions on Tuesday as foreigners continued to offload stocks following the announcement of downbeat manufacturing activities in China.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 7. 68 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 1,918.63. Trading volume stood at 254.52 million shares worth 3.46 trillion won (3.09 billion U.S. dollars).

According to HSBC Holdings and Markit Economics, the Purchasing Managers' Index, a gauge of manufacturing activity in China, fell to 50.5 in April from 51.6 in March, boosting concerns over the growth in the world's No. 2 economy.

The figure added concerns over the global economic recovery as the data came after China's GDP growth slowed to 7.7 percent in the first quarter.

Amid thin trading, foreign investors kept their selling spree for eight straight sessions by offloading stocks worth 118.7 billion won. The trading volume was the lowest in eight months.

Institutional and retail investors bought stocks worth 38.1 billion won and 56.4 billion won each, failing to drive up the main index into positive territory.

Among large-cap shares, losers outnumber gainers. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics slid 1.3 percent, and the nation's biggest auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis declined 2.9 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 0.6 percent, but its affiliate Kia Motors fell 0.2 percent.

Top life insurer Samsung Life Insurance retreated 2.4 percent, but the nation's largest wireless carrier SK Telecom gained 0.8 percent. Consumer electronics giant LG Electronics advanced 0.6 percent ahead of the first-quarter earnings announcement on Wednesday.

The local currency finished at 1,120.8 won against the greenback, down 1.8 won from Monday's close.

Bond prices ended higher. The yield on the liquid three-year treasury notes lost 0.02 percentage point to 2.60 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds fell 0.02 percentage point to 2.67 percent. Endi

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