SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - Asian stock markets closed mixed on Wednesday as U.S. tariff threats rattled investors, with signs of a broader "sell America" trend adding to volatility across the region.
In Seoul, the KOSPI swung more than 100 points before finishing at 4,909.93, up 0.49 percent from the previous session, while the KOSDAQ dropped 2.57 percent to 951.29.
Individuals offloaded a net 996.5 billion won ($675 million), while foreign investors and institutions purchased net amounts of 439.5 billion won and 321.6 billion won, respectively.
Among large-cap stocks, Samsung Electronics rose 2.96 percent to 149,500 won, while SK Hynix fell 0.40 percent to 740,000 won, Samsung Biologics dropped 2.45 percent to 1,873,000 won, Samsung Life Insurance slipped 0.29 percent to 174,700 won, and LG Energy Solution declined 2.11 percent to 394,500 won.
Auto-related stocks traded higher, led by Hyundai Motor, which surged 14.61 percent to 549,000 won, continuing its upward momentum. Kia also gained 5 percent to 172,100 won.
Defense and aerospace stocks also traded higher, with Hanwha Aerospace up 0.46 percent at 1,315,000 won.
Shipbuilding-related shares weakened, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries falling 1.56 percent to 631,000 won and Hanwha Ocean sliding 3.81 percent to 141,500 won.
The won, which traded at 1,481.4 per dollar earlier in the morning, strengthened to 1,469.40 later in the day, buoyed by remarks from President Lee Jae-myung, who said he would seek to ease concerns over foreign-exchange volatility.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japanese shares pulled back, with the Nikkei 225 Index down 0.41 percent to close at 52,774.64, as investors weighed political uncertainty due to a looming snap election along with tax relief proposals as an election sweetener.
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