Seoul shares up 0.39 pct in late morning trade

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded 0.39 percent higher late Friday morning on eased trade war concerns.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 8.72 points to 2,249.52 as of 11:20 a.m.

Bank shares were in strong terrain, with KB Financial Group rising 1.99 percent and Shinhan Financial Group advancing 0.23 percent.

Leading gamemaker NCSoft gained 1.21 percent, and Netmarble increased 2.59 percent.

Jin Air, a budget carrier line of the country's biggest carrier Korean Air Lines, surged 12.21 percent after the government decided to allow it to stay in business.

The Korean won was trading at 1,125.25 won against the U.S. dollar, up 4.85 won from the previous session's close.

brk@yna.co.kr
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