South Korean stocks started higher on Wednesday as overnight gains on Wall Street lifted investor sentiment, analysts said.

   The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 0.28 percent, or 5.56 points, to 2,001.88 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

   A retreat in oil prices bolstered U.S. stocks on Tuesday. The Dow Jones industrial average rallied 1.03 percent and the tech-focused Nasdaq composite index added 0.73 percent.

   The local currency was trading at 1,116.25 won to the greenback
as of 9:15 a.m., up 1.65 won from Tuesday's close. (Yonhap News)