Korean shares opened slightly higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, with investors remaining cautious ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting later this week.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 2.56 points, or 0.13 percent, to hit 1,974.83 in the first 15 minutes of trading. 

On Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average inched up 0.09 percent to 17,229.13 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq gained 0.04 percent to 4,750.28.    

Technology, chemical and airlines stocks led gains, with builders and financials trading in the negative territory.

The local currency was trading at 1,191.35 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.25 won from Monday's close. (Yonhap)