Seoul stocks open higher on electronics gains

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares started higher Friday, led by surging electronics shares, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 6.60 points, or 0.56 percent, to 1,182.51 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. shares tumbled Thursday as dismal corporate outlooks and slumping oil prices
worsened market jitters. The Dow Jones industrial average shed 2.49 percent and
the tech-heavy Nasdaq fell 1.71 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,306 to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down
14 won from Thursday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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