South Korean stocks traded 0.12 percent lower late Friday morning as investors switched to selling mode ahead of the release of U.S. jobs data, while a bio rally offset part of the loss.
  

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 2.55 points to 2,045.97 as of 11:20 a.m.
  

Most blue chip shares were in negative terrain.
  

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics declined 0.67 percent, and leading automaker Hyundai Motor slipped 0.6 percent.
  

Bio and health care shares traded bullish after Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced a license agreement with French drugmaker Sanofi to develop diabetes treatments, worth up to 3.9 billion euros ($4.2 billion). Its shares soared by the daily limit of 30 percent as soon as the market opened and held onto the ground.
  

Investors await U.S. jobs data due later in the day, which is expected to provide clues on whether the world's largest economy is strong enough to withstand the Federal Reserve interest-rate increase.
  

The local currency was changing hands at 1,137.3 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 1.2 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap)