Seoul stocks open stronger on global recovery hopes

SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Thursday
after upbeat U.S. economic data stoked global recovery hopes, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 15.68 points to
1,699.01 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The KOSPI briefly touched the
1,700-mark for the first time since June 26 last year.
The U.S. Fed said on Wednesday the nation's industrial output rose for a second
consecutive month in August, sending the Dow Jones industrial average up 1.12
percent to a new yearly high.
The local currency was trading at 1,207.45 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15
a.m., up 3.85 won from Wednesday's close.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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