
South Korean stocks started higher Friday, driven by US President Donald Trump's overnight comments on rates and oil prices.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 16.89 points, or 0.67 percent, to 2,532.38 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Overnight, US stocks were buoyed by Trump's video message for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, calling for cuts in interest rates and oil prices.
The S&P 500 finished up 0.53 percent to hit an all-time high, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.9 percent. The Nasdaq Composite added 0.22 percent.
In Seoul, market heavyweights led the positive start.
Chip giant SK hynix rose 2.28 percent, and Kia, the second-largest carmaker, edged up 0.1 percent.
Leading biotech firm Samsung Biologics advanced 2.37 percent, and Hyundai Mobis, an auto parts affiliate under Hyundai Motor Group, jumped 4.76 percent.
Top online portal operator Naver went up 1.22 percent, and Hana Financial Group rose 1.02 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,434.95 won against the US dollar at 9:15 a.m., up 2.35 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)