Seoul stocks open weaker on U.S. falls

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Monday,
tracking Wall Street tumbles last week, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 7.42 points, or
0.47 percent, to 1,583.99 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Dented by weaker-than-expected consumer sentiment for August, U.S. stocks fell
sharply on Friday with the Dow Jones industrial average dipping 0.82 percent.
Most key sectors traded lower across the local board, headed by financial shares.
Drug-makers, however, gathered substantial ground as investors bet two reported
cases of death from influenza A would boost demand for medicine.
The local currency was trading at 1,243.8 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,
down 4.8 won from Friday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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