SEOUL: South Korean stocks got off to a weak start on Monday, dragged down by losses in large-cap shares, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 9.55 points, or 0.46 percent, to 2,058.55 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics dropped 0.82 percent and chipmaker SK hynix, the second-largest company by market capitalization, also sank 1.73 percent.
State-run utility giant Korea Electric Power Corp. surrendered 0.67 percent, and No. 1 cosmetics maker AmorePacific fell 0.9 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,120.95 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 9.85 won from Friday’s close.
