[THE INVESTOR] Korean stocks swung between positive and negative terrain to finish a tad higher as investors awaited corporate earnings reports while keeping tabs on the trade talks between the United States and China, analysts said. The local currency lost against the greenback.

The benchmark KOSPI ticked up 0.33 point, or 0.02 percent, to finish at 2,124.61 Trading volume was moderate at 392.7 million shares worth 5.21 trillion won (US$4.62 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 452 to 374.

Foreigners and institutions bought a net 56.35 billion won and 63.45 billion won worth of local stocks, respectively, while retail investors dumped 138.51 billion won in shares more than they bought.

The local currency closed at 1,128.10 won against the US dollar, down 6.20 won from the previous session’s close.

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