Seoul: South Korean stocks traded higher late Wednesday morning, as investors continued to search for fresh momentum. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 10 points, or 0.35 percent, to 3,182.35 as of 11:20 a.m.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the KOSPI opened higher, bucking Wall Street losses overnight, which were dragged down by declines in big tech such as Nvidia and Apple. The country's economy grew at a faster pace than an earlier estimate in the second quarter this year.

Shares of semiconductors and heavy industries advanced, with top cap Samsung Electronics adding 0.65 percent and nuclear power plant builder Doosan Enerbility moving up 3.64 percent. In contrast, financial shares lost ground. Major portal operator Naver slid 1.67 percent, and Kakao Pay, a payment service of messenger app operator Kakao, tumbled 10.21 percent.

The local currency was quoted at 1,393.5 won against the greenback as of 11:20 a.m., down 2.5 won from the previous session's close.