Seoul stocks seen higher, banks in focus

SEOUL, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Seoul stocks are likely to rise on
Monday, led by techs such as Samsung Electronics (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research),
after Microsoft's bid for Yahoo lifted the sector on Wall
Street.

Banks will be in focus as they report quarterly earnings.

Top local lender Kookmin Bank (060000.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) and second-ranked
Shinhan Financial Group (055550.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) are tipped to report that
their quarterly profits more than doubled, driven by a rise in
interest margins and lower bad debts. [ID:nSEO98746]

But sentiment is expected to remain volatile, after data
showed U.S. employers cut payrolls for the first time in 4-½
years in January, raising fears the slowing economy was at
growing risk of sliding into recession. [ID:nN01409493]

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.61
percent to 1,634.53 points on Friday, adding to the 2.24
percent gain on Thursday.

----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2242 GMT
------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG

S&P 500 .SPX 1395.42 1.22% 16.870

USD/JPY <JPY=> 106.7 0.18% 0.190

10-YR US TSY YLD <US10YT=RR> 3.5963 -- 0.000

SPOT GOLD <XAU=> 910 0.00% 0.000

US CRUDE CLc1 88.82 -3.19% -2.950

DOW JONES .DJI 12743.19 0.73% 92.83
-------------------------------------------------------------

MARKETS SUMMARY

*Wall Street rises on tech bid [ID:nN01462020]

*Oil drops 3 pct on signs of economic weakness
[ID:nSP295754]

*Dollar up vs euro, sterling on mixed data [ID:nN01455456]

*Job cuts keep recession bid in Treasuries [ID:nN01173623]

STOCKS TO WATCH

- KEPCO

Korea Electric Power Corp (015760.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) on Friday posted a
wider-than-expected quarterly net loss due to higher fuel
costs, which wiped out higher electricity sales and the impact
of tariff hikes. [ID:nSEO70593]

- KEB

South Korea's financial watchdog said it would hold back
from approving a sale of Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) (004940.KS: Quote, Profile, Research)
until legal issues over Lone Star are resolved, after a lower
court ruling on the U.S. fund on Friday. [ID:nSEO84947]

- Samsung Fire and Marine

Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance Co (000810.KS: Quote, Profile, Research), South
Korea's top non-life insurance company, said its
October-December net profit more than doubled from a year ago
to 103.9 billion won. [ID:nSEF000096]

- Hanjin Heavy

UBS (UBSN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Friday it bought a minority stake in
South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin Heavy Industries (097230.KS: Quote, Profile, Research)
for investment purposes. [ID:nHKG264110]

- Hyundai Motor

Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS: Quote, Profile, Research), South Korea's top automaker,
on Saturday opened its second plant in India to take on growing
competition and cementing the country's position as a global
hub for small cars. [ID:nBOM254952]
(Reporting by Kim Soyoung; Editing by Valerie Lee)