KOSPI snaps 4-day winning streak despite briefly touching new high

South Korean stocks closed lower Friday, snapping a four-day winning streak despite briefly touching a fresh high during midday trading as investors braced for a five-day closure of the market for the Lunar New Year holiday. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 15.26 points, or 0.28 percent, to end at 5,507.01, after reaching a record high of over 5,580 during intraday trading. Trade volume was heavy at 1.28 billion shares worth 30.3