South Korean stocks started a tad lower Thursday led by losses in techs and automakers, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) started 10.14 points higher but soon shifted to negative territory to lose 0.84 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,030.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.44 percent and the country's second-largest home appliances maker LG Electronics dipped 0.39 percent.

Carmakers were weak, with industry leader Hyundai Motor slumping 3.01 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors falling 2.13 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,063.9 won to the greenback as of 9:15 a.m., down 0.4 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap News)