South Korean stocks closed 0.56 percent higher on Thursday on hopes Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Jobs' resignation would benefit local companies, but gains were limited due to lingering market jitters, analysts said. The local currency dropped against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 9.8 points to 1,764.58. Trading volume was moderate at 391.2 million shares worth 5.9 trillion won (US$5.4 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 438 to 394.