On Wednesday, Seoul shares experienced a decline as foreign investors opted to secure profits after two consecutive winning sessions, despite gains in Wall Street overnight. The local currency appreciated against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell by 0.8 percent, closing at 2,843.29, with a trade volume of 534.4 million shares worth 13.6 trillion won. Foreign investors sold off local shares worth 261.4 billion won, offsetting the net buying of 248.9 billion won by retail investors and institutions. The decline in the Kospi followed two previous sessions of gains. Analyst Kang Jae-jyun of SK Securities expressed the view that the main index may encounter obstacles on its way to reaching the 2,950 mark, citing the market's already incorporating expectations for a rate cut by the Federal Reserve. The Seoul stock market experienced an overall loss, largely driven by declines in the technology and automotive sectors, with market leaders Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor experiencing losses. However, certain sectors such as battery shares and shipbuilders saw fluctuations in their stock prices. The local currency saw an increase in value against the US dollar, trading at 1,381.5 won as of 3:30 p.m., reflecting a 3.4 won rise from the previous session.