Seoul shares trade 3.05 pct lower late morning

SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 3.05 percent lower late Friday morning as growing concerns about budget deficits in Greece and other debt-ridden European countries chilled investor sentiment, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) tumbled 49.32 points to
1,567.10 as of 11:20 a.m.
Most shares traded in negative territory. Market leader Samsung Electronics shed
3.05 percent and top financial services company KB Financial Group lost 4.3
percent
U.S. stocks tumbled Thursday, hit by its weaker-than-expected job data and
European debt woes. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 2.61 percent and the
tech-laden Nasdaq composite shed 2.99 percent. The Dow Jones industrials fell
below 10,000 for the first time in three months during the session.
The local currency was trading at 1,168.20 won against the U.S. dollar as of
11:20 a.m., down 17.30 won from Thursday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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