SEOUL: South Korean stocks started nearly flat Friday as investors took to the sidelines over lingering Greek uncertainties and a fast-spreading fatal respiratory illness, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 0.33 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,072.53 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.3 percent and chipmaker SK hynix, the second-largest company by market capitalization, gained 1.14 percent.
Amore Pacific, South Korea’s largest cosmetics maker, lost 0.75 percent and No. 2 LG Household & Health Care dropped 1.25 percent.
South Korea on Friday reported its fourth death from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
The local currency was trading at 1,113.25 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.65 won from Thursday’s close.
