(LEAD) Seoul shares open lower on inflation, Mideast woes

What happened: Seoul shares opened lower, with technology stocks leading losses amid inflation concerns tied to elevated oil prices and the escalating Middle East crisis. Key numbers: KOSPI fell 83.72 points, or 1.26 percent, to 6,542.21 as of 9:15 a.m. Why it matters: The decline came despite overnight gains on Wall Street, where the Dow rose 0.83 percent and the Nasdaq climbed 0.64 percent. A broader Middle East conflict could disrupt energy supplies, stoking inflation and pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise rates.

Seoul shares opened lower, with technology stocks leading losses amid inflation concerns tied to elevated oil prices and the escalating Middle East crisis.

The decline came despite overnight gains on Wall Street, where the Dow rose 0.83 percent and the Nasdaq climbed 0.64 percent. A broader Middle East conflict could disrupt energy supplies, stoking inflation and pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise rates.