Seoul shares extend losses late Mon. morning on extended chip rout

Seoul shares extended losses late Monday morning, led by semiconductor stocks, as the escalating conflict in the Middle East renewed concerns over energy supplies from the region. After opening 0.52 percent lower, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index extended its losses, falling 283.67 points, or 4.16 percent, to 6,536.93 as of 11:20 a.m. The index plunged 6.37 percent the previous session due to escalating tensions in the Middle East although softer-than-expected U.S. inflation data