Seoul Stocks Fall for First Times in 5 Days

South Korean stocks opened lower Thursday on profit-taking following a five-day bull run.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 16.02 points, or 1.3 percent, to 1,212.15 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The index improved to 1,217.39 as of 10:38 a.m.

Most large-cap shares traded in negative territory as investors booked profits on their recent surges.

But the tech-loaded Kosdaq market was quoted at 357.33, up 1.20 points from Wednesday's close, as of 10:38 a.m.

The local currency was trading at 1,313.25 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 20.75 won from Wednesday's close.