Seoul: South Korean shares opened sharply higher Thursday, led by gains in major chipmakers, tracking an overnight rally in U.S. technology stocks. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened 194.88 points, or 2.96 percent, higher at 6,773.92.

According to Yonhap News Agency, overnight, U.S. stocks tied to the artificial intelligence technology sector rose. The SandP 500 gained 0.26 percent, closing just shy of a record high, while the Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 0.54 percent. In contrast, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down 0.04 percent.