[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened higher on Aug. 4 as crude oil rebounded after US inventories data showed a drop in gasoline stockpiles.

The benchmark KOSPI scored 7.37 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,002.16 in the first 15 minutes of trading.




Chemical shares led the gains after West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 3.3 percent to settle at $40.83 a barrel on Aug. 3, after declining 5 percent over the previous two sessions.

SK Innovation, the nation’s largest refiner, jumped 3.17 percent, and No. 3 S-Oil increased 1.99 percent.

Tech shares were in the positive terrain.

Top market cap Samsung Electronics edged up 0.59 percent, and chip giant SK hynix advanced 1.04 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,114.6 won against the US dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 3 won from the previous close.

(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)