Seoul shares open lower despite trade deal hopes

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks start a tad lower on Thursday despite rising hopes on U.S.-China trade talks.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 7.51 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,193.97 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Chipmaker SK hynix fell 0.52 percent and LG Electronics, a leading home appliances manufacturer, retreated 0.14 percent.

Hyundai Heavy Industries lost 1.57 percent and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering dropped 1.24 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,125.3 won against the U.S. dollar, down 3.6 won from the previous session's close.

brk@yna.co.kr
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