South Korea's benchmark stock index traded slightly higher after swinging between gains and losses late Friday morning, as foreign investors turned net sellers of local stocks and top cap Samsung Electronics retreated.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.93 points, or 0.12 percent, to 2,477.69 as of 11:20 a.m. after falling as low as 2,469.75 at one point. 

Samsung Electronics fell 0.55 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix declined 2.15 percent.

Hyundai Motor slipped 1.92 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors traded 1.55 percent lower.

POSCO, the No. 1 steelmaker, advanced 3.83 percent.

Naver, the operator of the country's top Internet portal, fell 0.91 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,130.65 won against the US dollar, up 2.35 won from the previous session's close. 

Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 1.6 basis points to 1.916 percent and the return on the benchmar five-year government bond added 0.6 basis point to 2.117 percent. (Yonhap)