Seoul shares edge up in late-morning trading

SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded slightly higher late Thursday morning on strong gains from carmakers and internet service providers.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 2.35 points, or 0.12 percent, to reach 2,012.35 as of 11:20 a.m.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 3.07 percent and its auto parts affiliate, Hyundai Mobis, jumped 4.32 percent.

Naver, the leading online portal operator, vaulted 5.93 percent and its rival Kakao increased 2.94 percent.

Cosmetics shares were also bullish, with industry leader Amore Pacific advancing 2.58 percent and LG Household & Health Care moving up 1.76 percent.

But gloomy global market outlooks weighed heavily on chipmakers. Samsung Electronics sank 1.68 percent and SK hynix fell 2.97 percent.

The Korean won was changing hands at 1,125.9 won against the U.S. dollar, down 6.9 won from the previous session's close.

brk@yna.co.kr
(END)