The KOSPI index is displayed at a dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
Korean stocks traded higher late Monday morning as an extended rally in semiconductor shares offset concerns over U.S.-Iran negotiations to end their monthslong war.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 93.37 points, or 1.03 percent, to 9,145.79 as of 11:20 a.m.
The index opened 1.08 percent lower as investor sentiment was weighed down by overnight news reports that Washington-Tehran talks in Switzerland were halted after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran amid ongoing clashes between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
However, strong gains in semiconductor-related shares supported the turnaround.
