Seoul shares open higher on upbeat U.S. data

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Thursday, tracking overnight gains in U.S. markets buoyed by improved economic data, analysts said.

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.46 points, or 0.19 percent to 1,821.11 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Shares gathered ground across the board, with memory chipmaker SK hynix and leading carmaker Hyundai Motor rising nearly 1 percent each.

U.S. manufacturing goods sales rose in May for the first time in three months and home purchase contracts hit a seven-month high.

The local currency was trading at 1,154.45 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 1.75 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)