S. Korean shares open mildly higher

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started higher Tuesday.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 10.73 points, or 0.52 percent, to 2,074.90 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The U.S. stock market was closed overnight to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Market leader Samsung Electronics gained 1.25 percent and global chipmaker SK hynix was up 1.12 percent.

State-run utility firm Korea Electric Power Corp. declined 0.11 percent, while leading automaker Hyundai Motor remained flat.

The South Korean currency was trading at 1,184.80 won against the U.S. dollar, down 2.80 won from the previous session's close.

lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)