▲ This photo, taken Sept. 10, 2026, shows the dealing room of Hana Bank in Seoul. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- Seoul shares ended lower Thursday as surging oil prices, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, fueled inflation concerns ahead of the release of key U.S. inflation data.

The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.

After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 17.72 points, or 0.25 percent, to close at 7,033.92.

Foreigners sold a net 2.49 trillion won (US$1.86 billion) worth of stocks, while institutions and individuals bought a net 461.46 billion won and 362.18 billion won, respectively.

Overnight, U.S. stocks ended lower amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.77 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.64 percent.

Rising oil prices have fueled concerns about inflation and the possibility that the U.S. Federal Reserve could raise interest rates to contain price gains.

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