Seoul: South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday as a better-than-expected U.S. unemployment report for January boosted prospects that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates unchanged. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 62.74 points, or 1.17 percent, to 5,417.23 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

According to Yonhap News Agency, major U.S. indexes closed slightly lower overnight as investors showed a mixed reaction to the stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report, which raised hopes the U.S. economy would remain solid and that the Federal Reserve may keep its interest rates unchanged. Investors are now waiting for U.S. consumer prices data set to be released Friday, which will give further clues on the Fed's monetary policy direction.

In Seoul, semiconductor heavyweights Samsung Electronics and SK hynix started bullish, gaining 1.85 percent and 2.56 percent, respectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) investment firm SK Square jumped 4.7 percent. Shipbuilding and financial shares also opened stronger, with major shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy climbing 2.23 percent and its rival Hanwha Ocean rising 0.69 percent. Shinhan Financial advanced 2.87 percent, and Hana Financial increased 1.75 percent.

On the other hand, auto giant Hyundai Motor started 1.38 percent lower, and power plant manufacturer Doosan Enerbility shed 2.72 percent. Bio firm Celltrion lost 2.09 percent after rallying the previous day. The Korean won was trading at 1,450.6 won against the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., down 0.5 won from the previous session.