S. Korean stocks edge up in late Wednesday morning

SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded higher Wednesday morning on the back of gains in tech and steel shares.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 8.58 points, or 0.35 percent, to 2,488.23 as of 11:20 a.m.

Market kingpin Samsung Electronics was up 1.14 percent, and SK hynix, a global chipmaker, advanced 1.44 percent.

No. 1 steelmaker POSCO jumped 5.31 percent, and its rival Hyundai Steel also traded 2.45 percent higher.

Meanwhile, Naver, the largest online portal operator here, moved down 1.47 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,066.40 won against the U.S. dollar, down 5.2 won from the previous session's close.

scaaet@yna.co.kr
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