Seoul stocks rise 0.2 pct, financials advance

SEOUL, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Seoul shares rose 0.2 percent on Wednesday with lenders such as Kookmin Bank in favour as a foreign capital injection into Merrill Lynch helped ease concerns about the fallout from the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was up 0.23 percent at 1,923.97 points as of 0003 GMT, with Kookmin Bank 060000.KS advancing 0.96 percent to 73,300 won.

(Reporting by Kim Soyoung; Editing by Sei Chong)