SEOUL: South Korean stocks opened lower on Friday as investors remained worried about a potential rate-hike decision by the U.S. central bank.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 18.51 points, or 0.94 percent, to hit 1,943.6 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Large-cap Samsung Group shares led the decline. Tech giant Samsung Electronics fell 0.35 percent and Cheil Industries, the group’s de facto holding company, lost 1.18 percent.
Hyundai Motor fell 0.64 percent amid on-going wage negotiations. Its unionized workers recently voted for a strike.
