South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Thursday after the country reached a long-awaited tariff agreement with the United States.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 3.95 points, or 0.12 percent, to 3,258.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Earlier in the day, the two nations announced a trade deal that would impose a 15 percent tariff on South Korean imports and calls for $350 billion in US investments. US President Donald Trump earlier had threatened to impose a 25 percent levy.
Top-cap shares traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.34 percent, while chip giant SK hynix surged 1.33 percent.
Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution rose 0.76 percent, but major bio company Samsung Biologics edged down 0.09 percent.
Defense giant Hanwha Aerospace gained 0.51 percent, and leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy jumped 3.82 percent. Nuclear power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility went up 0.94 percent.
Automakers opened lower after the US tariff on South Korean automobiles was set at 15 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor sank 1.57 percent, while its sister affiliate Kia dropped 2.17 percent.
Top online portal operator Naver climbed 0.21 percent, and leading steelmaker Posco advanced 1.12 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,388.3 won against the greenback at 9:15 a.m., down 5.2 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
