Seoul share prices edge up on Wall Street gains

Published : Mar 18, 2016 - 10:41 Updated : Mar 18, 2016 - 13:49

South Korean share prices edged up on Friday following overnight gains on Wall Street.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.22 points, or 0.26 percent, to 1,992.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The KOSPI was trading nearly flat at 1990.23 points as of 10:38 a.m.

Traders monitor share prices at a local bank. (Yonhap)

Overnight, the Dow Jones industrial average closed up 0.90 percent to 17,481.49, while the Nasdaq composite index gained 0.23 percent to 4,774.98.

Analysts said investors were turning risk-on after seeing the U.S. Federal Reserve assume a dovish stance in its recent rate policy meeting.

Techs, automobiles and builders were in positive territory after opening, while some of the refiners were down.

The Korean currency was trading at 1,160.90 won against the dollar, up 11.90 won from Thursday’s close.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)