Seoul shares open higher on auto gains

SEOUL, Feb. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Monday on
expectations that a massive recall of vehicles by Toyota Motor Co. will help
Korean automakers increase their market share in the U.S., analysts said.

After range-bound trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index
(KOSPI) rose 2.06 points, or 0.13 percent, to 1,604.49 in the first 15 minutes of
trading.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors advanced more than 2.5
percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,163.90 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15
a.m., down 2.10 won from Friday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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