▲ This photo taken on Aug. 18, 2026, shows the dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul during morning trading hours. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 18 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares ended lower Tuesday, snapping a five-day winning streak, as investors locked in profits on large-cap stocks amid fading hopes for a deal to end the war between Iran and the United States.

The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.

After opening 2 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 108.11 points, or 1.55 percent, to close at 6,869.83.

Trade volume was moderate at 399.04 million shares worth 29.64 trillion won (US$20.9 billion) with decliners outnumbering gainers 679 to 195.

Institutions sold a net 784.9 billion won worth of stocks, while foreigners and retail investors bought a net 91.4 billion won and 731.29 billion won, respectively.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.51 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite declined 0.32 percent.

Oil prices remained elevated, stoking inflation concerns, while hopes for a deal with Iran faded after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was not interested in extending an agreement with Iran that was due to expire.

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