Seoul: South Korean stocks traded marginally higher late Monday morning led by gains in financial and retail shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) had added 4.73 points, or 0.15 percent, to 3,180.50 as of 11:20 a.m.
According to Yonhap News Agency, insurance shares were among the sharpest gainers, as industry leader Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance soared 9.51 percent and Hyundai Marine and Fire Insurance vaulted 6.35 percent. Major retailers Lotte Shopping and Shinsegae rose 2.3 percent and 5.87 percent, respectively. Leading cosmetics firm AmorePacific jumped 4.37 percent, and LG H and H advanced 2.88 percent. However, market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.96 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution dropped 1.87 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,378.4 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., down 3.0 won from the previous session.