stocks-morning

Seoul shares rise late Mon. morning on institutional, foreign buying

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares climbed more than 1 percent late Monday morning as institutions and foreign investors scooped up tech, bio and other blue chips.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index had climbed 1.19 percent, or 29.44 points, to 2,508.00 as of 11:20 a.m.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 1.5 percent, and its consumer electronics rival LG Electronics rose 1.39 percent.

Bio shares also chalked up big gains, with Samsung Biologics surging 4.66 percent and Celltrion gaining 2.09 percent.

Auto and energy stocks advanced as well. Hyundai Motor and Kia rose 2.51 percent and 3.92 percent, respectively, and leading refiner SK Innovation added 2.42 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,336.95 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.65 won from the previous session's close.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]