(URGENT) Seoul shares open 2.58 pct lower on Fed chief's hawkish comments

Seoul stocks opened sharply lower on Monday, August 31, with the main index falling 2.58 percent in early trading. The decline follows hawkish remarks from the U.S. Federal Reserve chair, which signaled a shift in monetary policy expectations.

The market downturn reflects investor reaction to the Federal Reserve's stance, as regional indices tracked the broader negative sentiment triggered by the central bank's comments. The drop marks a significant immediate reaction in the South Korean financial markets to international economic policy developments.