Stocks open higher on foreign buying

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as foreigners scooped up technology stocks. The won fell against the dollar. 

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 2.25 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,491.79 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. gained 0.71 percent, and SK hynix, a major chipmaker, advanced 2.0 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. moved up 0.33 percent, and leading chemical firm LG Chem Ltd. rose 0.52 percent.

In contrast, POSCO, the country's leading steelmaker, shed 0.74 percent. Hyundai Mobis Co., the country's No. 1 auto parts maker, fell 1.61 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,134.40 won against the US dollar, down 3.40 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)