Seoul shares almost flat late Tue. morning

SEOUL, South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Tuesday morning as investors are in a wait-and-see mode ahead of parliamentary elections and the release of key U.S. inflation data later this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index had gained 1.01 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,718.66 as of 11:20 a.m. Overnight, major U.S. indexes were almost flat as investors awaited the March consumer price index report, a key measure of inflation, to be released later this week. Investors' eyes are also on the results of South Korea's parliamentary elections set to be held Wednesday. In Seoul, big-cap shares were mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dipped 0.71 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix climbed 0.88 percent. Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution rose 0.54 percent but its smaller rivals Samsung SDI and POSCO Future M retreated 1.55 percent and 0.89 percent, respectively. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor lost 0.65 percent, while its smaller affiliate Kia increased 0.92 percent. The l ocal currency was trading at 1,354.30 won against the dollar, down 1.10 won from the previous session's close. Source: Yonhap News Agency