South Korean stocks started a tad lower Monday as investors took a cautious approach ahead of the earnings season.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 6.06 points, or 0.25 percent, to 2,450.09 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

Most of the major publicly traded companies report their quarterly earnings starting next week, with market heavyweights SK hynix and Samsung Electronics slated for Oct. 26 and Oct. 31, respectively.

Battery shares led the decline, with industry leader LG Energy Solution, the second-biggest share in terms of market cap, losing 1.14 percent and Posco Future M sinking 3.74 percent.

Builders were also among the losers, with Hyundai Engineering & Construction decreasing 0.7 percent and Samsung C&T skidding 0.28 percent.

Top online portal operator Naver fell 0.83 percent, and leading game developer NCSOFT dropped 0.89 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,351.25 won against the US dollar at 9:15 a.m., down 1.25 won from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)

• ·NewJeans, Seventeen, BTS win top honors at 2023 MAMA Awards
• ·[New on scene] Kim Chang
• ·[New on scene] Kim Chang
• ·[HIT Forum] High schooler shares his space dream
• ·[Herald Interview] Samyang CEO envisions elevating K
• ·[HIT Forum] Innospace champions small satellite renaissance
• ·PM makes official visit to Denmark to promote Expo bid
• ·Samsung SDI, Stellantis to set up 2nd JV plant in Indiana
• ·[Hello Indonesia] Digital innovation for financial inclusivity
• ·[HIT Forum] Innospace champions small satellite renaissance
• ·[HIT Forum] High schooler shares his space dream
• ·[HIT Forum] Korea's only astronaut highlights humanity's connection with universe
• ·Seoul shares open higher on Fed's rate pause hopes
• ·[HIT Forum]Space forum sees opportunities beyond our 'pale blue dot'
• ·USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier to arrive in Busan this week
• ·Seoul shares open higher on US gains after Fed comments