Seoul: South Korean stocks extended gains late Thursday morning, as investors snapped up shares in tech and semiconductors. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) had advanced 15.05 points, or 0.47 percent, to 3,199.47 as of 11:20 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, after opening higher, following an overnight tech rally on Wall Street, the KOSPI remained in positive terrain as institutional and foreign traders purchased IT and chip shares. South Korea also logged the largest current account surplus for any July this year, driven by solid exports and an increase in income for equity, the Bank of Korea reported.

Large-cap shares in Seoul traded mixed. Top-cap Samsung Electronics inched down 0.43 percent, its rival SK hynix advanced 2.19 percent, and major portal operator Naver jumped 3.05 percent. SK Innovation moved up 2.07 percent on the news its battery-making affiliate SK On clinched a 2 trillion-won (US$1.43 billion) deal with a U.S. company to supply its advanced energy storage system (ESS).

In contrast, automobiles were in negative territory, amid concerns of U.S. tariffs and a possible strike from the country's top car maker. Hyundai Motor retreated 0.23 percent, and its sister Kia slid 0.56 percent. The local currency had been quoted at 1,392 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., up 0.3 won from the previous session's close.