Seoul shares open lower following rally

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start on Monday as investors took a breather after a five-session winning streak, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped 5.58 points, or 0.29 percent, to 1,940.82 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Blue chips were mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics slumped 1.34 percent and top steelmaker POSCO fell 0.78 percent.

In contrast, shipbuilders outperformed the KOSPI, with top player Hyundai Heavy Industries gaining 1.02 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,131.15 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., down 0.75 won from Friday's close.

(Yonhap News)