Seoul stocks down 0.61 pct in late morning

SEOUL, March 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded down 0.61 percent late
Thursday morning as investor sentiment got a beating from the central bank's
interest-rate freeze, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 6.83 points to
1,120.68 as of 11:20 a.m.
"Investors were disheartened as the central bank's rate freeze failed to meet
their expectations of an expansionary monetary policy," said Lim Mi-na, an
analyst at Hanwha Securities. "Foreign investors' sell-off also weighed on the
market." Lim said.
The Bank of Korea left the key interest rate unchanged earlier in the day, ending
its aggressive rate reductions for six months.
The Korean currency was trading at 1,486.75 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., down 15.75 won from Wednesday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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