South Korean stocks traded slightly higher Tuesday morning on tech gains, with top market cap Samsung Electronics rising sharply.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.61 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,482.66 as of 11:15 a.m.


Market kingpin Samsung Electronics was 1.71 percent up after forecasting upbeat third-quarter earnings, aided by robust chip sales.

SK hynix, a major chipmaker, advanced 0.59 percent, and Naver, the country's top Internet portal operator, gained 1.05 percent.

Hyundai Motor, the No. 1 automaker, fell 1.63 percent, and No.1 steelmaker POSCO shed 1.45 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,131.65 won against the US dollar, down 3.75 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)