(LEAD) Seoul stocks open higher tracking U.S. gains as oil prices ease

Seoul's stock market opened on a positive note on Thursday, mirroring the rise seen on Wall Street the previous night, as oil prices retreated following U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks on a potential brief conflict with Iran. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), a key benchmark, gained 37.68 points, or 0.57 percent, to reach 6,600.4 by 9:15 a.m. following a 1.33 percent opening surge.

The previous trading day had been marked by a substantial drop in the main index, falling 3.99 percent to 6,562.72, driven by worries over Middle East tensions and potential additional rate hikes from the U.S. Federal Reserve. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.56 percent overnight, and the tech-focused Nasdaq composite increased by 0.45 percent.

Market leaders such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, both significant players in the semiconductor sector, saw gains of 1.2 percent and 1.05 percent, respectively. Top automobile manufacturer Hyundai Motor and leading battery producer LG Energy Solution also experienced positive movements, rising by 0.13 percent and 1.29 percent, respectively.

On the downside, SK Innovation, a major refiner, declined 3.5 percent, while SK Telecom, a key player in wireless services, dropped 2.74 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,362.2 per U.S. dollar by 9:15 a.m., marking a decline of 3 won from the previous day's close.