Seoul shares opened higher, backed by a rally in tech shares, after a mixed close on Wall Street, on hopes for additional US rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 1.83 percent, or 47.60 points, to 2,643.92 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7 percent to 41,914.75, but the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.04 percent to 18,082.21. On Wednes...
The imported liquor market in South Korea is undergoing rapid changes. Wine and whiskey, which had gained popularity during the trends of drinking alone or at home, are seeing a decline, while beer is making a resurgence. Analysts suggest that the market, which experienced significant fluctuations due to external factors like COVID-19, is now entering a period of adjustment. According to data from the Korea Customs S...
By Steve Brice August started off poorly for investors. Peak to trough, global equities fell 9.2 percent, with the losses accelerating in the first three days of August when they lost 6.4 percent. While equity markets have recouped almost all the early-August losses, the earlier sell-off is naturally leading to a lot of questions about how investors should respond to such weakness. Are such sell-offs short-term buying opportunities or are they signs of more sinister things to come? The mistake m
Seoul shares ended more than 1 percent lower Wednesday to end their six-day winning streak as investors were disappointed with a new stock index to be launched next week. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index declined 1.34 percent, or 35.36 points, to 2,569.32. Trading volume was moderate at 441.8 million shares worth 11.4 trillion won (US$8.6 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 516 to 355. Retail investors and institutions bought a
Seoul shares opened higher Wednesday tracking overnight gains on Wall Street on increasing hopes for more US rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.56 percent, or 14.79 points, to 2,646.47 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, major US indexes closed higher on hopes for additional rate cuts by the Federal Reserve amid lingering concerns on the labor market. Blue chip tech shares ra...
The Korea Value-up Index, the key component of the government’s push to boost corporate value and address the “Korea Discount,” is to enlist 100 companies, including Hyundai Motor and Mirae Asset Securities, according to the bourse operator Korea Exchange. On Tuesday, the Korea Exchange released the roadmap for the Value-up Index, a stock index comprising Korean companies complying with the corporate value-up program. The initiative, released earlier this year, includes a set o
Seoul shares closed higher Tuesday to extend their winning streak to a sixth day, driven by hopes for further US rate cuts and China's stimulus plan. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 1.14 percent, or 29.67 points, to 2,631.68. Trading volume was slim at 345.9 million shares worth 10.1 trillion won ($7.6 billion), with gainers surpassing decliners 605 to 264. Institutions bought 561.6 billion won worth of local shares to off
The South Korean government will look into ways to address issues regarding the national lottery, following the outcry over the relatively small jackpot and large numbers of first-place winners. The Korea Lottery Commission, under the Finance Ministry, announced Tuesday that it has posted a survey titled, “What are your thoughts on changing the first-place prize for the Lotto?” on the public forum run by the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission. Questions in the survey inclu
Seoul shares opened higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street amid hopes for more US rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.58 percent, or 15.18 points, to 2,617.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, major US indexes gained ground as several Federal Reserve policymakers voiced support for additional rate cuts in the future. Last week, the Fed cut its lending rate b...
Global investment bank Morgan Stanley has come under the scrutiny of local authorities, following the suspicious execution of a sell order on SK hynix shares made before releasing a bearish report on the chip giant’s outlook. On Sept. 15, during the Chuseok holiday, Morgan Stanley’s Asia-Pacific desk published a report titled “Winter Looms.” It suggested a skeptical projection of the company earnings, citing a weak demand for general dynamic random-access memory, or DRAM,
