South Korean shares were off to a strong start Wednesday, as traders were increasingly in favor of risky assets.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 15.35 points, or 0.77 percent, to 2,006.58 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The global market has virtually dispelled Brexit fears, and the U.S. economy is gaining renewed momentum. Japan is preparing for another round of stimulus measures, further whetting investors' appetite.

In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 120.74 to close at a record high of 18,347.67.

Top cap Samsung Electronics Co. rebounded 1.16 percent. A day earlier, the tech giant lost 1.68 percent, ending a three-day winning streak driven by its strong second-quarter earnings guidance.

Leading automaker Hyundai Motor Co. also gained 0.76 percent, while the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. was unchanged.

The local currency was trading at 1,145.40 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.6 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)