South Korean shares opened lower Thursday, retreating from fresh yearly highs a day earlier, as the market came under pressure over a renewed slump in global oil prices.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 5.42 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,039.22 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The Bank of Korea is set to hold a rate-setting meeting, with many analysts expected the central bank to keep its key interest rate unchanged.
Most large caps were in negative territory with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 0.19 percent. Major chipmaker SK hynix fell 0.59 percent.
Naver, the country's biggest Internet portal, declined 0.39 percent.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor was flat, and its affiliate Kia Motors rose 0.24 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,097.25 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.9 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
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