Seoul shares open sharply lower on renewed Iran tensions, US tech losses

South Korean stocks started sharply lower Wednesday on news that the United States has launched new strikes on Iran and overnight tech losses on Wall Street.

After opening 2.43 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 125.98 points, or 1.56 percent, to 7,970.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The US has struck Iran in response to the shooting down of an American Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, according to foreign media, which sapped investors' risk appe ...