(LEAD) Seoul shares open sharply higher on tech gains ahead of U.S. midterm election results

Korean stocks began the trading day sharply higher on Wednesday, buoyed by strong performance in the technology sector as investors looked forward to the U.S. midterm election results. The KOSPI index, which serves as the primary benchmark for the Korean market, surged 124.21 points, representing a 2.2 percent increase, to reach a level of 5,773 at 9:15 a.m. The previous evening, the Nasdaq, known for its heavy focus on technology, experienced a 0.83 percent gain, while the S&P 500 climbed 0.36 percent.

The demand for semiconductor companies was particularly notable, with the PHLX chip index climbing 2.63 percent. The index's performance was driven by several key players such as Samsung Electronics, which saw a 1.94 percent rise, and SK hynix, a major chip manufacturer, that soared by 3.86 percent. Additionally, Hanmi Semiconductor, a leading chip equipment maker, experienced a strong 4.89 percent increase, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, the electronic component unit of Samsung Electronics, witnessed a 3.17 percent surge.

Other companies also benefitted from the tech rally, with shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries up by 1.39 percent and game publisher NC gaining 2.92 percent. The Korean won was trading at 1,345.5 won per U.S. dollar as of the same time, marking a slight decline of 1 won from the previous day's closing figure.