▲ Financial data is shown on a screen inside the dealing room of Hana Bank in central Seoul on Sept. 11, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks opened sharply lower Monday, bucking advances on Wall Street, as geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East pushed up oil prices.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) opened down 217.3 points, or 3.14 percent, to 6,692.61.

On Friday (U.S. time), U.S. stocks closed higher on reports Gulf diplomats and Iran officials could hold a meeting Monday to discuss plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, without the U.S. participating.

The S&P 500 added 0.86 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq inched up 0.96 percent.

But the Omani foreign minister said the meeting was indefinitely suspended, dampening hopes for the opening of the crucial shipping route.

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