Seoul shares open sharply lower on U.S. losses

SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks plunged Thursday as investor
sentiment was dented by overnight tumbles in U.S. markets, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 38.87 points, or
3.29 percent, to 1,143.81 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. stocks closed lower Wednesday, hit by worries over the banking sector and
weaker U.S. retail sales figures. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 2.94
percent and the tech-dominated Nasdaq composite index declined 3.67 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,364.6 to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,
down 17.1 won from Wednesday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)