Korean shares open higher as battery makers see gains

Screens in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul show stock markets open on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Shares opened higher Wednesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street.

The Kospi added 17.75 points, or 0.69 percent, to 2,593.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 0.37 percent overnight.

In Seoul, most large caps were in positive terrain.

Samsung Electronics gained 0.54 percent while Celltrion advanced 0.66 percent.

LG Energy Solution surged 2.39 percent, and Samsung SDI spiked 2.94 percent.

Hyundai Motor added 1.91 percent while Kia Motors slipped 0.45 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,324.70 won against the dollar, down 2.90 won from the previous session's close.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]