Seoul shares start lower on tech, financial falls

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Monday as
falls in tech and financial issues weighed on the market, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 11.21 points, or
0.66 percent, to 1,690.59 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Institutional investors were sellers of local shares, as tech and financial
issues fell. South Korea's electronics giant Samsung Electronics dropped more
than 1 percent, and top financial services company KB Financial Group more than 2
percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,128.15 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15
a.m., down 5.15 won from Friday's close.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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