South Korean stocks traded slightly higher at all-time high levels Monday morning, with top market cap Samsung Electronics marginally down.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.91 points, or 0.12 percent, to 2,476.53 as of 11:15 a.m.

Market kingpin Samsung Electronics was 0.07 percent down after forecasting upbeat third-quarter earnings, aided by robust chip sales.


SK hynix, a major chipmaker, plunged 2.76 percent, and Naver, the country's top Internet portal operator, gained 0.13 percent.

Hyundai Motor, the No. 1 automaker, fell 0.65 percent, while No.1 steelmaker POSCO surged 5.85 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,128.45 won against the US dollar, up 0.45 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)