SEOUL: Seoul shares traded almost 0.3 percent higher late Friday morning ahead of the release of the Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 8.02 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,792.08 as of 11:20 a.m. Overnight, Wall Street closed slightly higher, as the U.S. personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index for May is set to be released Friday (U.S. time), the latest data for any clues on the Fed's monetary policy direction. Investors are also paying close attention to the ongoing U.S. presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. In Seoul, market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.61 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix declined 0.63 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor dropped 0.67 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia retreated 1.44 percent. But steel giant POSCO Holdings and leading chemical producer LG Chem turned higher to increase 0.7 percent and 0.15 percent. IT shares also traded in positive territory, with internet portal operator Naver up 0.6 percent and Kakao, the operator of the country's top mobile messenger, up 1.61 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,382.80 won against the U.S. dollar, up 3.0 won from the previous session's close. Source: Yonhap News Agency