Most Popular
-
1
[AtoZ into Korean mind] Humor in Korea: Navigating the line between what's funny and not
-
2
[Exclusive] Korean military set to ban iPhones over 'security' concerns
-
3
Yoon seeks rebound, taps 5-term lawmaker as chief of staff
-
4
Medical standoff deepens as doctors reject new med school plan, talks
-
5
Korean, Romanian leaders discuss defense tech, nuclear energy
-
6
[Graphic News] 77% of young Koreans still financially dependent
-
7
[Herald Interview] Why Toss invited hackers to penetrate its system
-
8
S. Korean envoys convene to navigate strategy amid Middle East tensions
-
9
North Korea fires several short-range ballistic missiles into sea: JCS
-
10
Samsung, SK hynix investors dump shares on Nvidia crash
-
Pharmaceuticals, biotechs soar on US rally
South Korean pharmaceuticals and biotech stocks have gone on a tear this year on the back of a biotech rally on the US NASDAQ market, data showed Thursday.The main stock market's subindex for the pharmaceutical sector had spiked 44 percent as of Wednesday from the start of this year, according to the data from the Korea Exchange and market tracker FnGuide.The figure is more than double the 19 percent increase in the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index over the cited period.On the seconda
Sept. 21, 2017
-
Seoul shares open lower after Fed meeting
South Korean stocks opened slightly lower Thursday, as the US Federal Reserve hinted at the chance of a December interest rate hike.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 1.87 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,140.33 in the first 15 minutes of trading.After holding a two-day policy meeting, the Fed left interest rates unchanged and said it would begin reducing its bond portfolio starting next month.Most large caps on the Seoul bourse traded mixed, with market kingpin Samsung Electronic
Sept. 21, 2017
-
Seoul stocks down ahead of US Fed policy statement
South Korean stocks ended lower Wednesday as investors took a wait-and-see stance before the results of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting, analysts said. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 3.85 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 2,412.2. Trade volume was moderate at 262 million shares worth 5.2 trillion won ($4.6 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 593 to 216.The local stock market opened a tad higher tracking overnight g
Sept. 20, 2017
-
Seoul shares down late Wednesday morning
South Korean stocks traded slightly lower late Wednesday morning as investors took to the sidelines awaiting the results of the US Federal Reserve meeting. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 1.24 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,414.81 as of 11:20 a.m.The two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting is slated to finish Wednesday (local time) probably providing clues on US monetary policy. Most large caps on the Seoul bourse traded mixed, with market kingpin Samsung Electroni
Sept. 20, 2017
-
Seoul shares open slightly higher on Wall Street gains
South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Wednesday, following overnight gains on Wall Street.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 1.9 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,417.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading.On Tuesday (local time), US stocks closed at fresh record highs, with the S&P 500 inching up 0.11 percent and the Dow gaining 0.18 percent. Most large caps on the Seoul bourse traded mixed, with marking kingpin Samsung Electronics shedding 0.04 percent.SK hynix, a
Sept. 20, 2017
-
Samsung BioLogics tops Swiss drug giant Lonza in market cap
South Korean biopharmaceutical maker Samsung BioLogics Co. has overhauled Swiss drug behemoth Lonza in terms of market value though its sales remain dwarfed by the latter's top line, industry sources said Wednesday.The market capitalization of Samsung BioLogics, a unit of South Korea's top conglomerate Samsung Group, came to 22.4 trillion won ($19.8 billion) as of Tuesday, compared with 22.1 trillion won for Lonza.Established in 1897, Lonza is a global pharmaceutical company that engages in both
Sept. 20, 2017
-
Seoul stocks end almost flat amid profit-taking
South Korean stocks finished almost flat Tuesday as investors attempted to lock in recent gains, analysts said. The Korean won lost ground against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index inched down 2.16 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 2,416.05. Trade volume was slim at 248.4 million shares worth 5.2 trillion won ($4.3 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 409 to 366.Foreigners and institutions offloaded a net 143.6 billion won and 50.5 billion won worth of local
Sept. 19, 2017
-
S. Korea to assure credibility of economy during NY summit
Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon is scheduled to meet with foreign investors in New York on Wednesday (local time) and intends to reassure the international financial community that the South Korean economy remains solid despite heightened tensions over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. Kim has joined President Moon Jae-in on his visit to New York for the annual UN General Assembly this week. Amid continuing provocations by North Korea, including the ballistic missile fired over
Sept. 19, 2017
-
Seoul shares down in late morning on tech losses
South Korean stocks traded lower late Tuesday morning as institutions and foreigners offloaded large-cap tech stocks in an apparent move to lock in profits, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 4.09 points, or 0.17 percent, to 2,414.12 as of 11:20 a.m.Most large caps traded mixed, with tech shares in negative terrain.Market kingpin Samsung Electronics lost 0.57 percent, and SK hynix, a major chipmaker, was down 0.5 percent.The local currency was trading at 1,130.5 w
Sept. 19, 2017
-
Seoul shares open tad lower despite Wall Street rally
South Korean stocks opened slightly lower Tuesday despite an overnight Wall Street rally as investors sought to lock in recent gains, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index inched down 1.8 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,416.41 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Monday (local time), the major US indexes hit record highs as investors were awaiting a Federal Reserve meeting scheduled for later this week. The Dow added 0.28 percent, and the S&P 500 was up 0.15 perc
Sept. 19, 2017
-
Seoul stocks hit over 6-week high, Samsung at new record high
South Korean stocks rallied more than 1 percent Monday, finishing at their highest level in more than six weeks, as Samsung Electronics, the country's top market cap, surged on the back of an upbeat earnings forecast. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 32.14 points, or 1.35 percent, to close at 2,418.21, after soaring to as high as 2,418.24 at one point. Trade volume was moderate at 231.8 million shares worth 5.1 trillion won ($4.52 b
Sept. 18, 2017
-
Hyundai Life Insurance cuts one-third of staff
Hyundai Life Insurance, an insurance unit of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Group, has recently cut a third of its employees due to mounting debt, an industry source said Monday.The insurance firm has let 120 out of 450 employees go under a voluntary retirement program, according to the source.Cumulative losses at the insurer stood at 220 billion won ($195 million) at the end of June. Still, the financial health of Hyundai Life Insurance has improved, with its risk-based capital ratio standing
Sept. 18, 2017
-
Seoul stocks up late Monday morning on Wall Street gains
South Korean stocks traded higher late Monday morning, hitting their highest level in more than a month, as they tracked gains on Wall Street.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index increased 23.61 points, or 0.99 percent, to 2,409.68 as of 11:20 a.m., after soaring to as high as 2,410.58 at one point. On Friday, US stocks closed at fresh record highs, with the S&P 500 inching up to surpass the 2,500-point mark for the first time. Most large caps improved, with market kingpin Sa
Sept. 18, 2017
-
Institutions scoop up techs during market correction
South Korean institutional investors have loaded up on tech stocks during a recent correction period in the local stock market, in contrast to foreigners' massive selling, data showed Monday.Local institutions' top pick was largest-cap Samsung Electronics Co. between July 24 and Friday, with their net buying of the tech giant reaching 1.35 trillion won ($1.19 billion), according to the data from the Korea Exchange. Institutions also purchased a net 551.5 billion won worth of chip giant SK hynix
Sept. 18, 2017
-
Stocks open higher on tech gains
South Korean stocks opened higher Monday, as investors scooped up large-cap tech shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9.39 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,395.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Market kingpin Samsung Electronics gained 1.03 percent, and SK hynix was 2.85 percent up.LG Chem, South Korea's top chemicals firm, advanced 0.37 percent, and AmorePacific, the country's No. 1 cosmetics firm, rose 1.4 percent. Hyundai Motor, No. 1 automaker, meanwhile, s
Sept. 18, 2017
-
Possible FOMC tightening to ease uncertainties: analysts
The United States Federal Open Market Committee’s decision this week to take another step back from yearslong quantitative easing is likely to ease uncertainties for the financial markets in South Korea, according to multiple analysts. The FOMC’s highly-anticipated decision to shrink the balance sheet, backed by signs of pick-up in US consumer inflation, will “lift some uncertainties out of the market,” wrote Kim Yu-kyum, an analyst at Cape Investment & Securitie
Sept. 17, 2017
-
Markets’ 10-day closure to be first in over 30 years
The Korea Exchange, South Korea’s sole securities market operator, is bracing for the 10-day closing of the market next month, the longest in more than three decades.The main bourse and the secondary bourse are scheduled to be dormant from Sept. 30 to Oct. 9 for the weekends and national Chuseok holiday. This is the third time for the market to close for 10 days since Kospi was launched by KRX in 1983.In 1983 and 1984, Kospi did not open from Dec. 25 to Jan. 3 the following year to allow t
Sept. 17, 2017
-
Seoul stocks up despite N. Korea's missile launch
South Korean stocks closed higher Friday, paring earlier losses fueled by geopolitical concerns, as institutional and individual buyers scooped up large-cap shares, analysts said. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 8.41 points, or 0.35 percent, to close at 2,386.07. Trade volume was slim at 290 million shares worth 6.1 trillion won ($5.2 billion), with gainers slightly outnumbering losers 406 to 403.The Seoul index hand opened lower af
Sept. 15, 2017
-
North Korean acts become like `Boy Who Cried Wolf' for markets
Traders are getting less excited by North Korean provocations, judging by the diminished reactions in financial markets to the dictatorship’s weapons tests.Consider the yen. A highly liquid instrument, it’s a haven in times of geopolitical or global financial stress so is perhaps the most sensitive asset to look at for immediate reaction to North Korean acts. The currency soared as much as 0.6 percent against the dollar within about a minute on Friday morning after the news Pyongyang
Sept. 15, 2017
-
Seoul shares lower in late Wednesday morning trading
South Korean shares traded lower Friday morning amid a massive selling spree by foreigners and institutions after North Korea fired another ballistic missile earlier in the day.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 8.69 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,368.97 as of 11:20 a.m. Earlier in the day, the North launched a ballistic missile eastward from its capital, the country's first missile launch after the United Nations Security Council adopted a fresh sanctions resolution this w
Sept. 15, 2017