Seoul shares opened lower Thursday, tracking Wall Street losses, as surging oil prices caused by intensifying tensions in the Middle East fueled inflation concerns ahead of key US inflation data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) extended losses after opening 0.18 percent lower, trading down 20.11 points, or 0.29 percent, to 7,031.53 as of 9:15 a.m. Overnight, US stocks also ended lower amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices.