SEOUL: South Korean stocks started higher on Thursday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) scored 9.51 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,924.73 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Tech shares were in positive territory. Market kingpin Samsung Electronics gained 0.92 percent and chip giant SK hynix rose 2.04 percent.
Auto shares traded bearish. Top automaker Hyundai Motor edged down 0.33 percent and its sister company, Kia Motors, ticked down 0.1 percent.
U.S. stocks rebounded on Wednesday following a big plunge from the day earlier, which was triggered by more signs of slowing growth in China.
The local currency was trading at 1,184.25 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 3.55 won from Wednesday’s close.
