South Korean stocks opened a whisker higher on Thursday on gains in tech and auto heavyweights, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose

0.07 percent, or 1.38 points, to 1,948.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics climbed 0.27 percent and top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 0.88 percent.

However, LG Electronics slumped 3.2 percent and Samsung SDI fell 2.92 percent following a cartel fine by the European Union.

The local currency was trading at 1,082.65 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., down 1.15 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)