South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday, dragged down by losses on Wall Street due to a resumption of military clashes between the United States and Iran.
After opening 0.52 percent down, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index extended losses, trading 84.81 points, or 1.24 percent, lower at 6,735.21 as of 9:15 a.m.
Overnight, major US stocks closed lower as renewed US-Iran airstrike exchanges and Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's hawkish speech fueled worries about inflation.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7 percent and the S&P 500 lost 0.33 percent, while the Nasdaq composite declined 0.12 percent.
In Seoul, market heavyweights led the decline.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics sank 2.31 percent, and its chipmaking rival SK hynix fell 1.19 percent.
Top carmaker Hyundai Motor retreated 1.12 percent, and defense giant Hanwha Aerospace lost 2.45 percent.
However, major shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries rose 0.33 percent and leading pharmaceutical firm Celltrion gained 0.74 percent.
The Korean won was quoted at 1,368.15 won against the US dollar as of 9:15 a.m., up 1.15 won from the close of the previous stock trading session. (Yonhap)