Seoul shares open bearish on blue chip losses

South Korean shares opened slightly weaker Thursday, sliding for a fifth consecutive session on losses in tech and other blue chips.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 3.52 points, or 0.18 percent, to 1,975.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Tech shares led the decline, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics edging down 0.79 percent.

Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, fell 0.85 percent.

Carmakers also opened weaker, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor sliding 1.43 percent and Hyundai Mobis stepping down 0.74 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,145.50 won against the US dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 3.4 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)