SEOUL -- South Korea's main stock index has been seesawing since the beginning of the year. Shares in the country's electronics companies, automakers and other exporters have lost steam, partly due to global economic sluggishness but also because of the continued depreciation of the yen, which generally benefits their Japanese competitors. In the runup to corporate earnings season, trading incentives are in short supply.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed Friday's session down 1.4% at 1,888. It was the first time in seven trading days that the index dipped below 1,900. The Swiss franc's surge further clouded the business outlook, prompting many international investors to unload South Korean shares.
