[THE INVESTOR] Korean stocks ended lower on May 4 as investors dumped health care shares amid uncertainties over their future growth. The won fell against the US dollar.

The benchmark KOSPI fell 25.87 points, or 1.04 percent, to 2,461.38. Trade volume was heavy at 599.88 million shares worth 10.608 trillion won (US$9.80 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 437 to 407.

The main index was weighed down by sharp declines in Samsung BioLogics and other health care stocks. The biopharmaceutical unit of Samsung Group plunged 29 percent in the past four sessions, underperforming the broader KOSPI‘s 2.1 percent loss, following the financial regulator’s announcement that it had violated accounting rules. 

Samsung BioLogics fell 7.82 percent to 359,500 won, and biosimiliar firm Celltrion declined 4.58 percent to 250,000 won during the trading session. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics also fell 2.08 percent to 51,900 won.    

Most large-cap stocks shed their earlier gains, with top carmaker Hyundai Motor falling 1.25 percent to 158,000 won and leading refiner SK Innovation down 4.36 percent at 197,500 won.

Among gainers, leading steelmaker POSCO rose 1.94 percent to 367,500 won, and cosmetics giant Amorepacific climbed 3.09 percent to 350,000 won.  

The local currency closed at 1,077.20 won against the US dollar, down 0.90 won from the previous session’s close.

By Song Seung-hyun and newswires (ssh@heraldcorp.com)