Seoul shares turn higher after weak start

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks turned a tad higher Tuesday after opening lower, helped by positive signs from the eurozone overnight, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 1.30 points, or 0.07 percent to 1,887.18 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Oil refiners and machineries led the climb, with top player SK Innovation jumping 2.14 percent and equipment maker Doosan Infracore gaining nearly 3 percent.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel decided Monday to support the European Central Bank's plan to purchase debts from the ailing countries in the region including Spain, sending global markets higher.

The local currency was trading at 1,127.10 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 1.9 won from Monday's close.

(Yonhap News)