Seoul shares open higher on tech, cosmetics gains

South Korean shares started higher Monday as tech firms, cosmetics and other large-cap issues gathered ground.
  

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index  rose 7.64 points, or 0.39 percent, to 1,982.04 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
  

Chipmaker SK hynix moved up 0.96 percent and LG Display, a leading flat panel maker, jumped 1.36 percent.
  

AmorePacific, the largest cosmetics maker, gained 1.11 percent and No. 2 LG Household & Healthcare advanced 1.21 percent.
  

The local currency was trading at 1,165.15 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 8.45 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap)