Seoul shares open lower despite falling oil prices, bond yields

What happened: Seoul shares opened lower Wednesday, bucking overnight US gains and easing concerns over lower oil prices and bond yields. The Kospi opened 1.11 percent lower before narrowing losses. Key numbers: Kospi down 18.8 points, or 0.27 percent, to 6,922.59 as of 9:15 a.m. Dow Jones rose 0.49 percent; Nasdaq Composite gained 0.45 percent to a record high. Why it matters: Large-cap stocks in Seoul traded mixed, with chip, auto, appliance and steel names lower while Samsung Electronics and Amorepacific gained. Global oil prices fell and bond yields declined from multidecade highs.

Seoul shares opened lower Wednesday, bucking overnight US gains and easing concerns over lower oil prices and bond yields. The Kospi opened 1.11 percent lower before narrowing losses.

Large-cap stocks in Seoul traded mixed, with chip, auto, appliance and steel names lower while Samsung Electronics and Amorepacific gained. Global oil prices fell and bond yields declined from multidecade highs.