By Cho Hyung-kwon
Staff Reporter

The Seoul stock market slumped to its lowest level in 10 months Monday as rising oil prices and threats over potential terror attacks in the United States weighed down on investor sentiment.

The technology-heavy Kosdaq Stock Market tumbled to another historic low, breaking the previous low set last Thursday.

SK Telecom, KTF, Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor led the decline.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 15.75 points, or 2.14 percent, to 719.59, falling below the 720 point level for the first time since October 2 last year.

The Kosdaq index tumbled 6.03 points, or 1.82 percent, to 325.18.

Oil prices rose to another historic high with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil for September delivery rising as high as $43.92 a barrel in after-hours trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

SK Telecom, the nation’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, fell 2.83 percent to 154,500 won. Hyundai Motor, the nation’s biggest automaker, lost 2.3 percent to 42,400 won.

Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest maker computer memory chips, dropped 2.15 percent to 408,000 won.

Foreign investors and retail investors chalked up a total of 168 billion won of shares but institutional investors sold more than 158 billion won of shares.

Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a five to two margin on trading of 277 million shares.

On the Kosdaq market, Daum Communications, CJ Home Shopping, Hanaro Telecom, NHN and Asiana Airlines closed in negative territory.

LG Telecom added 0.89 percent to 3,370 won and Internet Auction rose 2.12 percent to 96,000 won.

The Kosdaq index declined for the seventh time in the last eight sessions.

kevincho@koreatimes.co.kr