Stocks open slightly higher on chemicals, banks

SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened slightly high Monday, as investors scooped up chemicals amid a rebound in oil prices.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.17 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,394.96 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market kingpin Samsung Electronics remained unchanged, and SK hynix was 1.93 percent down.

Hyundai Motor, the No. 1 automaker, surrendered 0.31 percent, while AmorePacific, the country's top cosmetics maker, rose 1.32 percent.

LG Chem, the country's top chemicals firm, advanced 1.2 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,142.15 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.95 won from the previous session's close.

sam@yna.co.kr
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