Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

SEOUL, Jan. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started stronger Friday as
investor sentiment was lifted by overnight rises in U.S. markets, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 10.62 points, or
0.96 percent, to 1,121.96 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. stocks closed higher Thursday on hopes for a stimulus package, with the Dow
Jones industrial average rising 0.15 percent and the Nasdaq composite index
gaining 1.49 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,380.5 to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up
11.5 won from Thursday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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