Seoul shares up 1.1 pct in late morning

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks jumped 1.1 percent late Tuesday
morning as investors picked up financials and construction firms following
overnight rallies in U.S. markets, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 13.2 points to
1,212.7 as of 11:20 a.m. after surging to 1,225.95 in early trading.
Most shares gained ground with banks and construction firms driving the advance.
On Monday, U.S. stocks surged on Washington's announcement of a bank rescue plan.
The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 6.84 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq
rose 6.76 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,381.95 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., up 9.65 won from Monday's close.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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