Seoul stocks open stronger on U.S. jumps

SEOUL, Sept. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start
Wednesday as bullish Wall Street trading cheered investor sentiment, analysts
said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 17.46 points, or
1.06 percent, to trade at 1,670.86 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. shares extended gains Tuesday, boosted by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben
Bernanke's comment that the recession is over and positive manufacturing and
retail data. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.59 percent to a yearly high
of 9,683.41.
The local currency was trading at 1,210.65 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15
a.m., up 7.85 won from Tuesday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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