Seoul shares open higher on financial, machinery gains

SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started stronger Tuesday as
investors snapped up financial and machinery shares, shrugging off overnight
falls in U.S. markets, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 9.3 points, or
0.77 percent, to 1,211.99 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. stocks closed lower Monday on a delay in the announcement of a much-awaited
bank bailout plan. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped 0.12 percent and the
tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index inched down 0.01 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,384.05 to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,
down 3.05 won from Monday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)