Korea Hot Stocks-Kia Motors jumps, Doosan Heavy down

SEOUL, April 11 (Reuters) - Stocks on the move on Friday include:

As of 0256 GMT, the main KOSPI was up 0.03 percent at 1,765.23 points, paring small early gains, with LG Display (034220.KS) down 5.4 percent to 43,700 won on worries that its main TV maker clients are being squeezed in a price war.

The index had opened 0.2 percent higher at 1,768.13 points.

**KIA MOTORS JUMPS ON TALK OF STAKE PURCHASE**

Shares in Kia Motors (000270.KS) surged 10.09 percent to 12,000 won on talk fund manager Mirae Asset had bought a six percent stake in the car maker.

Under South Korean stock exchange rules purchases of a stake of five percent or more have to notify the exchange of the purchase within five days.

Representatives of Kia and Mirae were not immediately available for comment.

Traders added the shares were also boosted by upbeat expectations for the auto industry, helped by a weaker Korean won which boosts Korean exports' price competitiveness.

Affliate Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), the country's top auto maker, gained 3.31 percent to 81,200 won.

"Strong outlook that Kia Motors will swing back to gains in first-quarter operating profit and its profitability will improve further fuelled its shares," said Kim Byung-kuk, an analyst at Daishin Securities.

0256 GMT

**DOOSAN HEAVY DOWN ON WORRIES OVER Q1 PROFIT**

Engineering firm Doosan Heavy Industries (034020.KS) fell 5.56 percent to 110,500 won on expectations of lower first quarter operating profit because of rising commodities prices.

"Operating profit will likely represent only 5 percent of total sales, but I think this is not going to affect the firm long-term, as this normally happens in the company's earnings cycle," said Yang Hee-joon, an analyst at Mirae Asset Securities.

Yang added that Doosan Heavy's struggles could be a negative factor on shares of its parent, Doosan Corp.

Doosan Corp (000150.KS) was down 4.71 percent at 182,000 won.

(Reporting by Park Ju-min; editing by Dominic Whiting and Keiron Henderson)