SEOUL: South Korean stocks traded 2.29 percent higher late Wednesday morning, buoyed by firm gains in technology firms and cosmetics makers.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 42.95 points to 1,921.63 as of 11:20 a.m.
Techs led the gain. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.24 percent and chip maker SK hynix added 3.31 percent.
Cosmetics giants Amore Pacific and LG Household & Healthcare both surged more than 7 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,191.35 won against the U.S. dollar as of 11:20 a.m., up 9.55 won from the previous close.