Seoul shares up 0.54 pct in late-morning trade

South Korean stocks traded 0.54 percent higher late Tuesday morning, led by gains in large-cap tech and utility firms, analysts said. 

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 10.93 points to 2,024.08 as of 11:20 a.m.

Chipmaker SK hynix surged 3.5 percent, with state-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. jumping 2.2 percent. 

In contrast, steelmakers and oil refiners lapsed into negative territory, with No. 1 player POSCO sliding 0.7 percent and leading oil refiner SK Innovation slipping nearly 1 percent. 

The local currency was changing hands at 1,086.80 won against the greenback, up 6.4 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap News)