Seoul stocks down 0.9 pct in late morning

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 0.9 percent lower late
Monday morning, dented by Wall Street tumbles last week, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stocks Price Index (KOSPI) slid 14.29 points to
trade at 1,577.12 as of 11:20 a.m.
Weighed down by weaker-than-expected consumer confidence in August, U.S. stocks
lost ground on Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped 0.82 percent.
"Local investors are seeing Wall Street losses as a chance to take a breather
following recent sharp run-ups," said Kim Young-joon, an analyst at SK
Securities.
Large-capped shares remained in negative terrain, but drug-makers including Green
Cross gathered ground on expectations two reported cases of death from influenza
A may up demand for antiviral medicines.
The local currency was trading at 1,248.1 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., down 9.1 won from Friday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)