Stocks open lower before U.S. inflation data

Stocks opened lower Thursday as investors await U.S. inflation data. The benchmark Kospi fell 11.42 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,593.7 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Screens in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul show stock and foreign exchange markets close on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Stocks opened lower Thursday as investors await U.S. inflation data.

The benchmark Kospi fell 11.42 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,593.7 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.54 percent and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.2 percent as investors were cautious ahead of the release of the U.S. consumer price index, slated for Thursday.

In Seoul, most big-cap shares declined across the board.

Samsung Electronics sank 1.02 percent and SK hynix retreated 1.94 percent.

LG Energy Solution inched down 0.72 percent and Samsung SDI lost 1.58 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,317.3 won against the dollar at 9:15 a.m., up 2 won from Wednesday's close.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO, YONHAP [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]