Seoul stocks start tad lower

South Korean shares opened slightly lower Friday as investors opted to cash in part of recent gains.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 1.33 points, or 0.06 percent, to 2,054.14 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Large caps gained with market kingpin Samsung Electronics inching up 0.12 percent. Major chipmaker SK hynix gained 0.88 percent.

Auto shares traded were mixed across the board. Top automaker Hyundai Motor remained unchanged and its affiliate Kia Motors inched down 0.12 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,108.70 won against the US dollar, down 1.2 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)