Seoul shares open higher on Wall Street gains

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday
as investors took comfort from overnight gains in U.S. markets, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 13.59 points, or
0.82 percent, to 1,662.66 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. markets closed higher Monday on earnings momentum. The Dow Jones industrial
average gained 0.96 percent and the tech-laden Nasdaq composite index added 0.91
percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,166 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m.,
up 5 won from Monday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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