Screens in Hana Bank’s trading room in central Seoul show stock and foreign exchange close on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Shares started lower Thursday before the central bank’s key rate decision later in the day.
 
The Kospi lost 7.98 points, or 0.32 percent, to 2,511.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
 
In a rate-setting meeting, the Bank of Korea is widely expected to keep the rate unchanged at 3.5 percent.
 
Major shares went south, with Samsung Electronics falling by 0.28 percent and LG Energy Solution decreasing by 0.78 percent.
 
Hyundai Motor dropped 1.08 percent, and LG Chem declined 0.2 percent.
 
SK Innovation retreated by 0.7 percent, and Korean Air Lines went down by 1.13 percent.
 
Among gainers, Posco Holdings rose 0.1 percent, and Celltrion rose 0.37 percent.
 
The local currency was trading at 1,292.15 won against the dollar, up 2.55 won from the previous session’s close.

BY KIM JU-YEON, YONHAP [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]