stocks-open

▲ Financial data is shown on a screen inside the dealing room of Woori Bank in central Seoul on Oct. 15, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks opened higher Friday after the previous session's over 7 percent dip amid woes over artificial intelligence (AI) trade and U.S. inflation.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened up 99.77 points, or 1.8 percent, at 5,653.99.

Overnight, major stocks indexes on Wall Street closed higher, but major AI and semiconductor shares ended in negative territory.

The S&P 500 added 0.33 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq inched up 0.08 percent.

U.S. producer price data posted the largest gain in 4 1/2 years in September, further solidifying speculation that the Federal Reserve will raise key rates to rein in inflation.

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