Looking gloomy

A board at KEB Hana Bank in central Seoul on Monday shows the benchmark Kospi falling below the 1,900 mark for the first time in four months. The Seoul market has declined more than 3 percent compared to the end of last year as uncertainties over the Chinese market continue to rattle investors, while rising tension with North Korea, crude oil prices and diplomatic spats in the Middle East worsen the situation. The won also closed at its weakest level in five years as foreign investors have been offloading shares for nearly a month. They have sold almost 4 trillion won ($3.3 billion) in stock since early December. [NEWSIS]