[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Aug. 12, thanks to a rebound in global oil prices.

The benchmark KOSPI rose 6.98 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,055.78 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Most large caps traded mixed with Samsung Electronics gaining 0.32 percent. Chipmaker SK hynix declined 0.72 percent.

Top automaker Hyundai Motor edged up 0.74 percent, and steelmaker POSCO rose 1.86 percent.

Naver, the operator of the country’s leading internet portal, added 0.13 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,098.10 won against the US dollar, up 1.4 won from the previous session’s close.


(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)