Seoul shares closed slightly higher on Tuesday as investors anticipated Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's congressional testimony later in the week. The local currency also strengthened against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose by 9.62 points, or 0.34 percent, to reach 2,867.38. Trade volume stood at 443.2 million shares with a value of 10.8 trillion won ($7.83 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers by 453 to 406. Foreign investors made a net purchase of 313 billion won, while individuals sold a net 292 billion won and institutions offloaded a net 31 billion won. Investors were particularly interested in the possibility of rate cuts, as Powell's testimony coincided with the upcoming release of major economic indicators such as the consumer price index for June. Tech shares saw a boost following the record high closing of the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite on Wall Street. Specific gains were observed in the semiconductor sector, with companies like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix seeing increases in their stock prices. However, carmakers, including Hyundai Motors and Kia, experienced losses, while battery makers such as LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI ended the day on a positive note. The local currency was trading at 1,381.6 won against the greenback, marking an increase of 1.7 won from the previous session's close. Overall, the Seoul stock market closed slightly higher amid anticipation of Powell's testimony and key economic indicators, with notable fluctuations observed in specific sectors such as tech, automotive, and battery manufacturing.