SEOUL: South Korean stocks started higher Tuesday, driven by gains in cars, chemicals and other large-cap issues, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 2.38 points, or 0.12 percent, to 2,067.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 1.12 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors rose 1.05 percent. LG Chem, the country’s largest chemicals maker, also jumped 2.46 percent.
The gains were partly pared by losses in tech issues. Industry leader Samsung Electronics lost 1.52 percent, and chipmaker SK hynix fell 1.25 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,119.1 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 4.2 won from Monday’s close.
