South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Monday led by gains of semiconductor and battery shares amid eased woes over the US administration's sweeping tariffs.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 29.8 points, or 1.22 percent, to 2,462.52 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Most blue chips advanced following losses in the previous session. Market cap Samsung Electronics jumped 2.36 percent, and chip rival SK hynix added 1.6 percent.
Leading battery maker LG Energy Solution rose 1.64 percent, and industry rival Samsung SDI also gained 2.62 percent.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor inched up 0.28 percent, and leading defense equipment manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace added 1.03 percent.
Shipbuilders also gained momentum. Industry leader HD Hyundai Heavy Industries soared 3.07 percent, and Samsung Heavy Industries rose 2.07 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,424.85 won against the US dollar at 9:15 a.m., jumping 25.05 won from the previous session. (Yonhap)
