Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

SEOUL, July 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday,
taking a cue from overnight gains in U.S. markets, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 8.21 points, or 0.53
percent, to 1,542.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. markets closed higher Thursday as a drop in U.S. jobless benefits boosted
sentiment. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.92 percent and the tech-laden
Nasdaq composite index added 0.84 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,233.5 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,
up 3.3 won from Thursday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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