Seoul stocks up 2.73 pct in late morning

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 2.73 percent higher late
Thursday morning, led by banking gains, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 36.48 percent to
1,374.9 as of 11:20 a.m.
"Shares were buoyed by firming economic fundamentals and continued foreign
purchases," said Choi Sung-lak, an analyst at SK Securities.
Bank shares led the gains as investors hunted for bargains, with Woori Finance
Holdings, the parent for Woori Bank, shooting up as high as 13 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,318.8 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., up 21.9 won from Wednesday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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