Seoul: South Korean stocks traded higher late Tuesday morning, driven by big-cap tech shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 9.32 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,620.01 as of 11:20 a.m.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the index opened higher, tracking U.S. gains, but some of the earlier gains were erased as retail investors sought to cash in recent gains, partly offsetting the net buying of foreigners. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.69 percent, while chip giant SK hynix shed 0.97 percent. Top battery maker LG Energy Solution increased 0.77 percent, with leading chemical firm LG Chem adding 0.43 percent.
Bio shares traded mixed. Major bio firm Samsung Biologics went up 0.47 percent, while Celltrion remained unchanged. Top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 0.88 percent, but its sister affiliate Kia sank 3.44 percent. Leading defense equipment manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace went up 0.4 percent, and top financial firm KB Financial surged 2.53 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,446.25 won against the U.S. dollar at 11:20 a.m., up 1.65 won from the previous session.