SEOUL: South Korean stocks traded 0.3 percent higher late Wednesday morning on gains from construction firms and shipbuilders, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 6.11 points to 2,034.10 as of 11:20 a.m.
Builders traded higher, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction rising 3.38 percent and Daewoo Engineering & Construction moving up 1.35 percent. Daelim Industrial advanced 1.01 percent.
Shipbuilders also gained ground, with Hyundai Heavy Industries jumping 5.08 percent and Samsung Heavy Industries climbing 1.14 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,174.05 won to the U.S. dollar, down 8.55 won from Tuesday’s close.