Seoul stocks open up on finance gains

SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started slightly higher Tuesday as
investors picked up recently beaten-down financial shares, shrugging off
overnight setbacks in U.S. markets, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6.93 points, or 0.62
percent, to 1,124.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Most large-cap issues opened in positive territory with banks and insurers
driving the market higher.
On Monday, U.S. stocks retreated on renewed tensions in the Middle East and a
surge in oil prices due to supply disruption woes. The Dow Jones industrial
average fell 0.37 percent and the tech-dominated Nasdaq composite index shed 1.3
percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,255.5 to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up
7.5 won from Monday's close.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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