Seoul shares up 0.21 pct in late-morning trade

South Korean stocks reverted to gain 0.21 percent late Monday morning after opening lower, led by bullish telecom and utilities shares, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 4.22 points to 2,000.89 as of 11:20 a.m.

Leading mobile carrier SK Telecom surged more than 5 percent, with state-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. umping nearly 3 percent.

In contrast, chemical companies and brokerages trended downward. LG Chem lost about 2 percent and No. 2 securities firm KDB Daewoo Securities was down 1.2 percent.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,056.15 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 1.45 won from Friday's close. (Yonhap News)