South Korean stocks started a whisker higher Thursday as investors remained optimistic on stimulus packages at a key meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB) later this week, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 2.27 points, or 0.12 percent, to 1,882.2 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Large-cap shares lent support to the increase, with the world's biggest shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries rising 2.11 percent and top automaker Hyundai Motor adding 0.63 percent.

The market turned its attention to ECB's Thursday meeting to closely watch whether the European leaders will take further action to quell the eurozone sovereign debt crisis. The U.S. Federal Reserve said it will not move in the near future to boost the economy.

The local currency was trading at 1,131.25 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 4.75 won from Wednesday's close.

(Yonhap News)