Seoul shares open higher on institutional buying

SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday
as institutional investors scooped up financial shares, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 6.95 points, or
0.44 percent, to 1,579.68 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Top financial services company KB Financial Group rose 1.04 percent and its rival
Shinhan Financial Group advanced 2.02 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,159.85 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15
a.m., down 2.55 won from Thursday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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