South Korean stocks started higher Friday as investor sentiment got a boost from improved economic data from China and the eurozone, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 4.69 points, or 0.25 percent, to trade at 1,904.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Tech shares led the gain, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics moving up 0.71 percent while its electronics component-making affiliate Samsung Electro-Mechanics gained 2.73 percent. Samsung SDI, the world's top maker of plasma display panels, added 1.63 percent.
Carmakers also traded higher, with top player Hyundai Motor increasing 1.67 percent while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors added 1.61 percent. No.1 auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis climbed 0.19 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,085.45 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.45 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)
