Seoul: Seoul shares opened higher Thursday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, while oil prices eased after U.S. President Donald Trump played down the prospect of a prolonged conflict with Iran. After opening 1.33 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) trimmed gains, trading 37.68 points, or 0.57 percent, higher at 6,600.4 as of 9:15 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the main index had plunged 3.99 percent to 6,562.72 in the previous session amid concerns about tensions in the Middle East and the possibility of further U.S. Federal Reserve rate hikes. The overnight performance of U.S. markets saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise 0.56 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite gained 0.45 percent. President Trump's comments regarding U.S. attacks on Iran potentially being short-lived helped ease concerns about inflation.

In Seoul, tech stocks led the gains. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.2 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix climbed 1.05 percent. Top carmaker Hyundai Motor gained 0.13 percent, and leading battery maker LG Energy Solution added 1.29 percent.

Among decliners, leading refiner SK Innovation fell 3.5 percent, and leading wireless services provider SK Telecom declined 2.74 percent. The Korean won was quoted at 1,362.2 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 3 won from the close of the previous stock trading session.