SEOUL, Feb. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks trimmed earlier gains Thursday morning as institutions offloaded stocks in the face of lingering market jitters. The won fell against the dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 8.83 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,405.39 as of 11:20 a.m.
Institutions continued to sell local stocks for a second straight session, offloading a net 104 billion won (US$96 million). Foreigners and individuals bought a combined 105 billion won of stocks, keeping the main index from trading in the negative territory.
Tech and auto stocks were lead gainers, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. rising 1.18 percent, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix Inc. jumping 2.67 percent and top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. climbing 0.63 percent.
Among decliners, No.1 chemical company LG Chem Ltd. fell 0.93 percent, and leading refiner SK Innovation Co. declined 1.05 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,087.70 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.10 won from the previous session's close.
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