SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares opened higher Thursday, as investors attempted to buy oversold stocks despite losses on Wall Street amid concerns over artificial intelligence spending and uncertainty about the Federal Reserve's policy path.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 18.53 points, or 0.33 percent, to 5,681.77 at the opening bell.

On Wednesday, the index plunged 5.98 percent to close at 5,663.24, following a 10.84 percent decline the previous session.

Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.19 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 1.74 percent.

The Fed on Wednesday (U.S. time) left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.5-3.75 percent, marking a fifth consecutive pause.

The U.S. central bank offered little new guidance on the future path of interest rates, leaving investors with greater uncertainty.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr

(END)

• (LEAD) S. Korea, U.S. open shipbuilding partnership center to advance MASGA initiative
• S. Korea formally completes development of homegrown KF-21 fighter jet
• Nam Joo-hyuk to star in new Disney+ crime thriller 'Code'
• (3rd LD) SK Group chairman ordered to pay 944 bln won in asset division to ex-wife

• Trump threatens 'substantial' Section 301 tariffs on EU after Google fine

• S. Korea formally completes development of homegrown KF-21 fighter jet

• Police drop underage dating charge against actor Kim Soo-hyun
• KRX activates sell-side sidecar for KOSPI on sharp decline
• (LEAD) BTS says it will not submit music for next year's Grammys
• Bourse operator issues circuit breaker for KOSPI on sharp fall