South Korean shares opened higher Friday, extending a rally into a fifth day on eased investors' anxiety about Britain's vote last week to exit the European Union. 

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 13.86 points, or 0.70 percent, to 1,984.21 in the first 15 minutes of trading. 

After shedding 3.09 percent on Friday when Britain's EU exit decision was officially announced, the main index rebounded this week to recover the loss.  

Investors appear to have been relieved by concerted efforts promised by governments and central banks worldwide to minimize the post-Brexit market turmoil through fiscal stimulus packages and monetary easing steps, analysts said.  

Early this week, the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan were quick to say they are ready to inject more funds into markets should they be needed. Korea announced a 20 trillion won plan to ease uncertainties and support growth.

On Thursday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 63.43 points, or 1.33 percent, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index also climbing 1.11 percent.

Major large-cap stocks advanced across the board.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. rose 1.33 percent, leading cosmetics maker AmorePacific Corp. gained 1.52 percent, and top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. was up 0.74 percent.

Among decliners, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix Inc. fell 0.46 percent and the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. slid 0.66 percent.  

The local currency was trading at 1,151.25 won against the U.S. dollar, up 0.55 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)