Seoul shares open higher on U.S. gains

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, tracking its U.S. peers overnight with the Dow Jones industrial average rising to a record high on the back of economic data, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 5.06 points, or 0.25 percent, to 1,998.84 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 16,000 mark for the first time on fewer-than-expected jobless claims and getting inflation under control.

Public companies and tech firms drove up shares. State-run Korea Electric Power Corp. climbed 2 percent, with chip giant SK hynix advancing 2.2 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,062.55 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 0.35 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)