Seoul stocks opened higher Monday, with the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) up 64.09 points, or 0.93 percent, to 6,958.32 as of 9:15 a.m., led by gains in tech heavyweights. However, elevated oil prices and lingering tensions in the Middle East kept investors cautious. Overnight, Wall Street stocks closed higher as investor sentiment improved on falling oil prices and easing pressures. On Friday, Seoul stocks advanced 2.66 percent as easing inflation concerns lifted investor sentiment.