Seoul stocks dropped over 2 percent on Monday, with investors cautious ahead of the release of important US economic data later in the week. The Korean Composite Stock Price Index fell by 2.13 percent to 2,593.27, with trading volume reaching 352.4 million shares valued at 10.5 trillion won. Institutional and foreign investors sold a net 1.21 trillion won in local shares, while retail investors bought a net 1.19 trillion won. Market experts noted that investors were adopting a wait-and-see stance in anticipation of the US manufacturing purchasing managers index for September and the upcoming jobs report. Analysts, such as Kim Ji-won from KB Securities, highlighted that this week's focus will likely be on the US employment data and the vice presidential candidates' debate. With market closures due to holidays, a cautious approach is expected to dominate trading activities. Blue-chip stocks, particularly in the chip and bio sectors, saw declines, with Samsung Electronics and Samsung Biologics both experiencing drops. Automotive, financial, steel, and refining shares also faced losses during the trading session. The local currency closed at 1,307.8 won against the US dollar, marking a 9-month high.