Seoul shares open higher despite US losses amid Middle East pessimism

South Korean shares opened higher Wednesday, led by gains in major technology stocks, despite overnight losses on Wall Street as optimism over a potential US-Iran peace deal faded. After opening 1.47 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index traded up 149.19 points, or 2.35 percent, at 6,494.71 as of 9:15 a.m. Investors became more pessimistic about the prospects for a deal that could bring stability to the Middle East after the newly appointed secretary of Iran's Supreme N