Kospi edges higher as financial, tech companies lead gains

Screens in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul show the stock market price as it opens on Thursday. [YONHAP]

Stocks opened marginally higher Thursday led by financial and tech companies.

The Kospi rose 4.37 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,697.94 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Financial shares got off to a good start, continuing their upward momentum after gains in the past two sessions. Shinhan Financial added 2.10 percent and Hana Financial rose 0.99 percent.

Samsung Electronics also rose 0.40 percent and LG Electronics added 0.20 percent.

Internet portals also advanced, with Naver inching up 0.16 percent and Kakao climbing 0.55 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,315.30 won against the dollar, up 0.80 won from the previous session's close.

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