Seoul stocks up 0.95 pct late morning

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 0.95 percent higher late Thursday morning as investor sentiment was boosted by overnight gains in U.S. stock markets, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 15.88 points to
trade at 1,687.29 as of 11:20 a.m.
On Wednesday, U.S. markets closed higher as investors stepped up buying tech and
financial shares ahead of imminent earnings reports. The Dow Jones industrial
average rose 0.5 percent and the tech-focused Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 1.12
percent.
Tech shares and exporters traded sharply higher, with market bellwether Samsung
Electronics jumping 2.38 percent. The country's No. 1 automaker Hyundai Motor
added 1.47 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,122.45 won to the U.S. dollar as of 11:20
a.m., up 3.05 won from Wednesday's close, as foreign investors scooped up local
shares.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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