South Korean shares open higher on techs

South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday on gains in tech and energy stocks.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 7 points, or 0.36 percent, to 1,959.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The benchmark index rose 0.58 percent to trade at 1964.32 points at 10:58 a.m.

Tech shares traded higher, with top player Samsung Electronics adding 1.01 percent. Top refiner SK Innovation advanced 2.99 percent and LG Chem, the country’s leading chemicals firm, remained flat.

Hyundai Motor, the nation’s leading automaker, suffered a 0.67 percent fall and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors fell 0.72 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,211.85 against the U.S. dollar, up 4.3 won from the previous session’s close.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)