Seoul stocks start higher on rebound in oil prices

South Korean shares opened higher on Friday, thanks to a rebound in global oil prices and bullish sentiment in U.S. stock markets.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 6.98 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,055.78 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics gaining 0.32 percent. Major chipmaker SK hynix declined 0.72 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor edged up 0.74 percent, and top steelmaker POSCO rose 1.86 percent.

Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, added 0.13 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,098.10 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.4 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)