Seoul shares open higher on bank gains

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start on Tuesday as investors picked up beaten-down bank shares, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 5.35 points, or 0.25 percent, to trade at 2,109.51 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Bank shares, which recently traded weaker, gained ground on bargain hunting. No. 4 banking group Hana Financial Group rose almost 2 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,092.65 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 1.45 won from Monday's close.