Seoul: South Korean stocks ended modestly higher Monday, snapping a two-day losing streak, as investors bought major chipmakers after Wall Street extended its record-setting rally. The Korean won weakened against the U.S. dollar.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 40.89 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 6,299.66 after choppy trading. The index opened 0.76 percent higher and surged as much as 2.16 percent in early trading before paring some of its gains. The market later moved mostly sideways amid heavy foreign selling.

On Friday, Wall Street advanced, following U.S. job reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.28 percent, while the S and P 500 added 0.62 percent to a fresh record. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index increased 1.3 percent.

In Seoul, large-cap stocks finished mixed. Semiconductor heavyweight Samsung Electronics went down 0.43 percent to 230,000 won after opening higher, while its rival SK hynix edged down 0.14 percent to 1.42 million won.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,418.4 won against the U.S. dollar at 3:30 p.m., down 2.3 won from the previous session.