Seoul shares extended losses late Wednesday morning, falling more than 8 percent, as escalating concerns over the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict continued to weigh on investor sentiment. After opening 3.44 percent lower, the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) extended its losses, tumbling 468.98 points, or 8.1 percent, to 5,322.93 as of 11:45 a.m., following a plunge of more than 7.24 percent the previous session. The Korea Exchange (KRX) triggered circuit breakers shortly after the KOSPI fell more than 8 percent amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Earlier in the day, the KRX also issued a five-minute sell-side sidecar immediately after the opening bell, temporarily halting program-driven sell orders in KOSPI futures. A similar sidecar was also activated on the tech-heavy KOSDAQ market. The United States and Israel carried out coordinated strikes on Iran over the weekend, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. U.S. President Donald Trump signaled the possibility of a prolonged military campaign. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.83