Seoul shares open lower on Wall Street falls

SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started lower Thursday as investor
sentiment was dented by overnight falls in U.S. markets, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 7.95 points, or 0.56
percent, to 1,406.94 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. markets closed lower Wednesday as weaker data on private sector employment
dented hopes for an early economic recovery. The Dow Jones industrial average
dipped 0.75 percent and the tech-laden Nasdaq composite index declined 0.59
percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,242.85 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15
a.m., down 9.65 won from Wednesday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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