Kospi opens higher ahead of parliamentary elections

A screen in Hana Bank's trading room in central Seoul shows the stock market prices as it opens on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

Stocks started higher Tuesday ahead of parliamentary elections and the release of key U.S. inflation data later this week.

The Kospi gained 18.76 points, or 0.69 percent, to reach 2,736.41 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Overnight, major U.S. indexes were almost flat as investors awaited the March consumer price index report, a key measure of inflation, to be released later this week.

Investors' eyes are also on the results of Korea's parliamentary elections set to be held Wednesday.

In Seoul, Samsung Electronics dipped 0.36 percent, while SK hynix climbed 0.88 percent.

LG Energy Solution rose 1.74 percent, Samsung SDI increased 0.36 percent and Posco Future M jumped 3.37 percent.

Auto and bio shares also gained ground.

Hyundai Motor added 1.08 percent and Kia soared 3.32 percent.

Samsung Biologics gained 0.74 percent and Celltrion went up 0.58 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,353.40 won against the dollar, up 0.20 won from the previous session's close.

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