Seoul shares open stronger on U.S. gains

SEOUL, March 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start on
Thursday, taking a cue from overnight gains in U.S. markets.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 9.21 points, or 0.79
percent, to 1,179.16 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. stocks surged on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would pump
more than US$1 trillion into the economy to help revive the country's housing
market. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.23 percent and the tech-heavy
Nasdaq composite index added 1.99 percent.
The South Korean currency was trading at 1392.75 won to the U.S. dollar as of
9:15 a.m., up 28.75 won from Wednesday's close.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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