South Korean stocks opened marginally higher Friday as investor sentiment was buoyed by moderate US consumer price data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 12.23 points, or 0.47 percent, to 2,613.79 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The US July consumer price index rose 3.2 percent, slower than the market expectation of a 3.3 percent rise. On Wall Street, stocks finished slightly higher, with the .
South Korean stocks closed lower Friday as uncertainties over further rate hikes emerged after data showing eased U.S. inflation was released. The local currency dipped to the lowest in over two months against the U.S. dollar.