South Korean stocks started a tad higher Tuesday led by gains in Samsung Group shares.
  

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 3.38 points, or 0.17 percent, to 1,967.05 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
  

Tech giant Samsung Electronics gained 0.63 percent, and Samsung SDI, its battery-manufacturing unit, advanced 3.38 percent.
  

Samsung Engineering soared 23.66 percent following a plan to sell new shares to improve its financial status.
  

The local currency was trading at 1,174.45 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 6.25 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap)