Stocks open higher on foreign buying

SEOUL, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as foreigners scooped up technology stocks. The won fell against the dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 2.25 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,491.79 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. gained 0.71 percent, and SK hynix, a major chipmaker, advanced 2.0 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. moved up 0.33 percent, and leading chemical firm LG Chem Ltd. rose 0.52 percent.

In contrast, POSCO, the country's leading steelmaker, shed 0.74 percent. Hyundai Mobis Co., the country's No. 1 auto parts maker, fell 1.61 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,134.40 won against the U.S. dollar, down 3.40 won from the previous session's close.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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