South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday on hopes of second-quarter corporate earnings, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shot up 14.44 points, or 0.77 percent, to 1,894.79 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Top-listed firms moved upward, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics gaining 0.7 percent and No. 1 steelmaker POSCO jumping more than 2 percent.
South Korean companies have started posting their results for the second quarter from Monday. Investors are eyeing this week especially since major firms including Samsung Electronics and Kia Motors are due to disclose theirs later in the week.
The local currency was trading at 1,116.80 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 2.1 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)
