Seoul shares open flat amid U.S. jobs data

South Korean stocks opened almost flat Friday as investors took a wait-and-see approach on the U.S.

jobs data for November, scheduled to be announced after the trading session, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 1.08 points, or 0.05 percent, to 1,983.69 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Tech shares moved up, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics adding 0.07 percent and flat panel maker LG Display rising 2.99 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix moved up 0.73 percent.

Carmakers traded mixed, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor trading unchanged from the previous trading session, while auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis decreased 1.01 percent. Kia Motors, in contrast, advanced 0.71 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,058.55 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 1.05 won from Thursday's close. (Yonhap News)