Seoul shares open higher on tech gains

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks got off to a strong start on Monday on gains in tech firms and shipbuilders, underpinned by the country's large current account surplus in July, analysts said.
   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 19.49 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1798.44 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
   Tech firms gained ground with market bellwether Samsung Electronics rising 0.55 percent. Leading shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries jumped 3.12 percent.
   South Korea's current account surplus reached a nine-month high of US$4.94 billion in July, more than doubling from a revised $2.03 billion the previous month.
   The local currency was changing hands at 1,078.4 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 3.4 won from Friday's close.
   brk@yna.co.kr
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