Seoul shares open slightly higher on U.S. gains

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened marginally higher Tuesday as investor sentiment improved on overnight rallies in U.S. markets, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 0.22 point, or
0.01 percent, to 1,696.36 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The KOSPI surpassed the 1,700-point mark as soon as the market opened, but it
soon pulled back as investors turned cautious following recent gains, analysts
said.
U.S. stocks began the new year with the bull run on the back of stronger economic
data. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 1.5 percent and the tech-laden Nasdaq
composite index gained 1.73 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,146.40 won to the U.S. dollar as of 10:15
a.m., up 8.40 won from Monday's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
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