S. Korean shares retreat on U.S. fiscal cliff concerns (4)

The nation's No. 1 automaker Hyundai Motor inched down 0.2 percent to 224,500 won, and its affiliate Kia Motors dipped 0.5 percent to 59,200 won. Top life insurer Samsung Life Insurance and the nation's largest crude oil refiner SK Innovation also ended in negative terrain.

The local currency finished at 1,086.5 won against the greenback, down 2.4 won from Tuesday's close.

Bond prices ended higher. The yield on the liquid three-year treasury notes fell 0.01 percentage point to 2.83 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bonds lost 0.02 percentage point to 2.90 percent.

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