Seoul shares up 1.38 pct in late morning

By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 1.38 percent higher late
Friday morning as the central bank's interest rate freeze dissipated lingering
concerns about rising borrowing costs, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 22.34 points to
1,637.8 won as of 11:20 a.m.
Earlier in the day, the Bank of Korea (BOK) left the benchmark seven-day repo
rate unchanged at a record low of 2 percent, as widely expected. Shares of
construction companies and steel makers traded in positive territory.
The local currency was trading at 1,166.3 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., up 0.7 won from Thursday's close.
ylee@yna.co.kr
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