Seoul stocks to start lower on US recession worry

SEOUL, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Seoul stocks look likely to fall
on Friday, led by exporters such as Samsung Electronics
(005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) after latest U.S. economic data fueled concerns of
a sharp slowdown in South Korea's second-biggest export market.

Adding to worries about a recession, data showed U.S.
mid-Atlantic factory production slumped to its lowest level
since the last recession, while an index of future economic
activity pointed to even tougher times ahead. [ID:nN21572086]

Oil refiners such as SK Energy (096770.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) could also
decline after oil fell more than $1 on Thursday, but fuel
cost-sensitive stocks such as Korean Air (003490.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) could
benefit.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.97
percent to 1,704.36 points on Thursday.
----------------------MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2233 GMT ------------

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S&P 500 .SPX 1342.53 -1.29% -17.500
USD/JPY <JPY=> 107.34 -0.05% -0.050
10-YR US TSY YLD <US10YT=RR> 3.786 -- 0.000
SPOT GOLD <XAU=> 945.6 0.14% 1.300
US CRUDE CLc1 97.5 -2.21% -2.200
DOW JONES .DJI 12284.30 -1.15% -142.96
-------------------------------------------------------------

MARKETS SUMMARY

*Wall St sinks on energy slide, recession worry
[ID:nN21505392]

*Oil falls over $1 on US supply, weak economy [ID:nSP42216]

*Dollar slides on sharp fall in US business index
[ID:nN21412046]

*Treasuries rally, yields lower on recession fear
[ID:nN21500624]

STOCKS TO WATCH

- Hyundai E&C

Indian utility Reliance Energy RLEN.BO and South Korea's
Hyundai Engineering & Construction (000720.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) have won a bid
to build a 22-km bridge over the sea connecting Mumbai and the
mainland, a Reliance official said. [ID:nBOM148527]

- Woori Finance Holdings

South Korea on Thursday reprimanded Woori Bank, the banking
unit of Woori Finance Holdings (053000.KS: Quote, Profile, Research) and its former chief
executive for violating banking rules when they allowed
"borrowed name" accounts for the Samsung Group, the Financial
Supervisory Service said. [ID:nSEO25378]

(Reporting by Kim Soyoung, editing by Jacqueline Wong)