South Korean stocks traded 0.22 percent higher late Thursday morning as the market sentiment was buoyed by a rebound in crude oil prices from a multi-year bottom and gains in Wall Street.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 4.41 points to 2,003.63 as of 11:20 a.m.

U.S. crude futures jumped 3.8 percent to $37.50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, supporting the battered energy sector on Wall Street on Wednesday.

Doosan Infracore, the maker of construction equipment under the Doosan Group, rose 2.73 percent after a private equity fund operated by Standard Chartered was named as the preferred bidder with a 1.3 trillion won ($1.1 billion) offer, slightly higher than market estimate.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction also jumped 4.32 percent on hopes that the deal could improve the cash-strapped builder's finances.

The local currency was changing hands at 1,171.8 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 1.3 won from Wednesday's close. (Yonhap)