SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks ended higher for the second straight session on Tuesday as investors scooped up major chipmakers on bargain-hunting. The Korean won gained ground against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 45.87 points, or 0.73 percent, to close at 6,345.53.

After opening 0.95 percent lower, the KOSPI soon reversed course as major chip heavyweights gained ground, although the broader market sentiment remained cautious amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

On Monday (local time), the U.S. stock market edged down from its all-time high the previous session as oil prices rose on uncertainty about when the Strait of Hormuz could reopen to shipping.

The S&P 500 slipped 0.1 percent from its record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.1 percent and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell 0.3 percent.

In Seoul, large-cap stocks finished mixed.

After opening lower, semiconductor heavyweight Samsung Electronics went up 4.13 percent to 239,500 won per share and its rival SK hynix gained 0.35 percent to 1.42 million won.

The Korean won was quoted at 1,416 won against the U.S. dollar at 3:30 p.m., up 2.4 won from the close of stock trading the day before.

khj@yna.co.kr

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