Seoul stocks open lower on chip losses

SEOUL, Oct. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened lower Thursday, dragged down by losses in chip-heavy stocks, following a three-day losing streak. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 23.55 points, or 0.34 percent, to 6,814.49 at the opening bell. Overnight, Wall Street ended mixed as cooler-than-expected inflation data was offset by persistent pressure from elevated U. S. Treasury yields and rising oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.86 percent, while the benchmark S&P 500 dipped 0.25 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.24 percent. The closing price of the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) is displayed on a screen in Hana Bank's dealing room in central Seoul on Sept. 30, 2026. (Yonhap) khj@yna.co.kr(END)