Seoul shares open sharply higher on U.S. gains

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares got off to a strong start Monday
as institutional investors scooped up large-cap shares following U.S. gains,
analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 47.02 points, or
4.26 percent, to 1,150.84 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Wall Street rallied Friday as the Treasury Department reassured investors that it
was prepared to rescue the nation's struggling auto industry a day after the
Senate rejected a proposed US$14 billion aid package.
The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.75 percent and the tech-dominated Nasdaq
composite index added 2.18 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,331.5 to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up
41 won from Friday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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