Seoul stocks open higher on tech gains

SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher on Monday on gains in market kingpin Samsung Electronics and other tech shares.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 2.01 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,067.62, in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Most large caps traded mixed with Samsung Electronics inching up 0.43 percent.

Chipmaker SK hynix jumped 1.93 percent, but top portal operator Naver declined 2.04 percent.

Automakers remained in negative terrain.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor shed 1.31 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors was down 0.13 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,167.80 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.10 won from Friday session's close.
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