Seoul shares open sharply higher on chip rally

South Korean shares opened sharply higher Thursday, led by gains in major chipmakers, tracking an overnight gains in US technology stocks. After opening 2.96 percent higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index traded up 290.02 points, or 4.41 percent, at 6,869.06 as of 9:15 a.m. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index opened 194.88 points, or 2.96 percent, higher at 6,773.92. Overnight, US stocks tied to the artificial intelligence technology sector rose. The S&P 500 gained 0