South Korean stocks opened a tad lower Thursday as weak economic indicators from the United States and China renewed worries over the global slowdown, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 1.1 points, or 0.06 percent, to 1,962.85 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Financial firms and steelmakers drove the shares down. No. 2 lender KB Financial Group shed nearly 1 percent and Dongkuk Steel Mill dropped more than 2 percent.

The latest U.S. payroll data fell short of market expectations, with the Chinese manufacturing index sliding in March after two months of gains.

The local currency was trading at 1,098.40 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.8 won from Tuesday's close.

The Seoul bourse was closed on Wednesday for International Workers' Day. (Yonhap News)