Seoul stocks down 1.63 pct in late morning

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded down 1.63 percent late
Thursday morning, dragged by overnight U.S. losses, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 23.08 points to
1,391.45 as of 11:20 a.m.
Wall Street lost ground on Wednesday on weak April retail sales, with the Down
Jones industrial average shedding 2.18 percent and the Nasdaq composite index
sinking 3.01 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,256 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m.,
down 12 won from Wednesday's close.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
(END)