South Korean stocks turned higher after a weak start Monday, as widening auto gains offset losses of top-cap Samsung Electronics Co., analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 3.07 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,836.38 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor soared 1.2 percent, with its smaller affiliate Kia Motors climbing 1.5 percent.
But Samsung Electronics lost nearly 1.4 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,149.75 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 7.45 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)
