S. Korean shares nearly flat in late morning trade

South Korean stocks traded nearly flat late Wednesday morning as investors took to the sidelines following overnight losses on Wall Street amid plunging crude oil prices.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged up 0.06 percent, or 1.24 point, to 1,918.38 as of 11:20 a.m.

Tech shares gained ground, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics climbing 0.6 percent and chipmaker SK hynix moving up 0.61 percent. Flat screen manufacturer LG Display jumped 3.55 percent.

Hyundai Motor Group affiliates trade mixed, as Hyundai Motor advanced 0.28 percent while its sister firm Kia Motors lost 0.18 percent. Car parts maker Hyundai Mobis and logistics firm Hyundai Glovis each tumbled 3.01 percent and 7.06 percent, respectively.  

The local currency was trading at 1,080.95 against the U.S. dollar, up 2.55 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)