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SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares opened sharply higher Wednesday ahead of Meta Platforms' earnings results, as investors weighed concerns over profitability from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.
After opening 2.05 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended gains, trading up 158.88 points, or 2.86 percent, to 5,711.62 as of 9:15 a.m.
The main index rebounded from a nearly 4 percent dip the previous session.
Overnight, U.S. stocks closed mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 1.02 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.02 percent.
Strong earnings from some technology companies helped revive investor interest in tech stocks.
Investors are now turning their attention to earnings reports from Meta Platforms and other technology companies due this week.
In Seoul, tech stocks led the gains.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 4.14 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix climbed 5.89 percent.
Leading steelmaker POSCO Holdings gained 0.83 percent, and leading shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries was up 0.16 percent.
Among decliners, LIG Defense & Aerospace plunged 11.86 percent and S-Oil declined 0.69 percent.
The Korean won was trading at 1,325.15 won against the U.S. dollar at 9:15 a.m., up 0.85 won from the close of the previous stock trading session.
Financial data is shown on a screen inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Oct. 21, 2026, after the market opened. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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