Seoul shares open sharply lower on US tech slide, Iran tensions

South Korean stocks started sharply lower Thursday, tracking an overnight tech slump on Wall Street fueled by woes over the valuation of artificial intelligence shares and escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.

After starting 2.86 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index extended losses, plunging 288.94 points, or 3.74 percent, to 7,441.88 in the first 15 minutes of trading.

The Kospi's steep fall was in line with major US indexes' overnight losses led by a ...