Seoul shares open 1.11 pct higher on U.S. optimism

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher on Thursday as investor sentiment was underpinned by expectations for U.S. economic stimulus, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 20.96 points, or 1.11 percent, to trade at 1,901.07 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. markets closed higher on Wednesday on hopes for economic stimulus. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.46 percent and the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.13 percent.
Foreign investors bought a net 151.9 billion won worth of local stocks on the main bourse.
The local currency was trading at 1,064 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 2.8 won from Wednesday's close.