Seoul shares almost flat late Tues. morning

SEOUL, South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Tuesday morning amid heightened caution ahead of a key U.S. inflation report due this week.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index had added 1.94 point, or 0.07 percent, to 2,729.15 as of 11:20 a.m.Investors remained cautious before the U.S. Consumer Price Index for April set to be released Wednesday (local time), which will give clues for the future course of the Federal Reserve's key rate decision.Tech behemoth Samsung Electronics gained 0.13 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix rose 0.65 percent.Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution climbed 1.44 percent, Samsung SDI advanced 1.85 percent, and POSCO Future M increased 0.91 percent.Steel giant POSCO Holdings added 0.63 percent, and top chemical producer LG Chem jumped 3.45 percent.But auto and financial shares were weak.Top automaker Hyundai Motor was flat, while its smaller affiliate retreated 0.96 percent and its auto parts making affiliate Hyundai Mobis dropped 0.66 percent.Fo llowing Monday's rally, KB Financial Group slid 3.8 percent and Hana Financial Group plunged 3.14 percent.The local currency was trading at 1,369.40 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., down 1.2 won from the previous session's close.Source: Yonhap News Agency