Seoul stocks open weak on profit-taking

SEOUL, July 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares started lower Tuesday as investors opted to cash in part of recent gains.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped 6.11 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,015.00 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 0.33 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor shed 0.38 percent, and top steelmaker POSCO also fell 1.32 percent.

In contrast, Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, rose 0.56 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,137.80 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.4 won from the previous session's close.

sam@yna.co.kr
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