Seoul: South Korean stocks opened higher Monday led by gains of big-cap tech shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.86 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,450.78 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
According to Yonhap News Agency, retail investors were on a buying mode, offsetting selling by foreigners and institutions. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.37 percent, and chip giant SK hynix soared 3.9 percent. Top steelmaker POSCO Holdings gained 0.39 percent, and internet platform giant Naver jumped 2.99 percent.
However, leading battery maker LG Energy Solution inched down 0.14 percent, and leading chemicals producer LG opened unchanged. Carmakers opened lower, with top automaker Hyundai Motor sinking 1.88 percent, and its sister affiliate Kia losing 0.89 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,474.35 won against the greenback at 9:15 a.m., down 5.95 won from the previous session.