Seoul shares open slightly higher on first day of trading in 2015

South Korean stocks started nearly flat Friday, the first trading session of the new year, with tech and financial shares gaining some ground, analysts said.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.42 point, or 0.02 percent, to 1,916.01 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.23 percent and chipmaker SK hynix gained 1.05 percent.

Shinhan Financial Group, the biggest banking group by asset, advanced 0.56 percent and runner-up KB Financial Group increased 0.14 percent.

Top carmaker Hyundai Motor remained unchanged and its affiliate Kia Motors inched up 0.19 percent. Their parent Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automotive company, announced its 2015 sales target of 8.2 million units worldwide.

The local currency was trading at 1,099.05 against the U.S. dollar as of 10:15 a.m., up 0.25 won from Tuesday's close.

The South Korean equity market opened one hour later than usual on Friday after a two-day closure. (Yonhap)