Seoul shares trade 0.55 pct higher in late morning

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 0.55 percent higher late
Wednesday morning as investors picked up financial and construction shares,
shrugging off concerns over weaker corporate earnings outlooks, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 6.39 points to
1,174.1 as of 11:20 a.m.
"The key stock index reversed earlier losses amid gains in Asian regional markets
and stabilization in the foreign exchange markets," said Lee Sun-yup, an analyst
at Goodmorning Shinhan Securities Co.
"But the KOSPI is trading in a tight range as investors still seem to be cautious
ahead of fourth-quarter earnings reports starting Thursday."
The local currency was trading at 1,340.7 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., up 13.3 won from Tuesday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)