[THE INVESTOR] Shares on the South Korean market made slight positive gains in late morning trading Aug. 23, led by top cap Samsung Electronics.

The benchmark KOSPI gained 4.27 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,046.43 as of 11:20 a.m.

Samsung Electronics spiked 1.32 percent to a record high of 1,687,000 won (US$1,510). The gain came after a 0.6 percent drop in the previous session to 1,665,000 won.

Other large caps traded mixed while gains in the auto industry also helped keep the index moving upward.

Local industry leader Hyundai Motor gained 0.38 percent, with its smaller affiliate Kia Motors advanced 0.6 percent.

Top insurer Samsung Life Insurance plunged 1.96 percent, while steelmaking giant POSCO slipped 0.46 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,117.5 won against the US dollar, improving 9 won from the previous session‘s close.


(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)