Big Brazilian firms setting sights on Korean bourse

Several big-cap Brazilian petrochemical makers, resource developers and food companies are seeking to list their shares on the Korean bourse in a bid to tap a new funding source, market watchers said Tuesday.Brazilian companies setting sights on the South Korean stock market include Braskem, the largest petrochemical company in the Americas, and Brasilfoods, the world‘s third-largest meat processor.The Brazilian companies have been sounding out the possibility of share listings on the Korea Exch

Feb. 28, 2012

S. Korea posts current account deficit of $770 mln in January

South Korea posted a current account deficit in January for the first time in two years as exports slumped amid the eurozone debt crisis, the central bank said Tuesday.The current account deficit reached $770 million last month, shifting from a surplus of $2.81 billion the previous month, according

Feb. 28, 2012

Weight affected by some medications

Weight gain or loss may not always be caused by diet and exercise; it could be affected by medications, a U.S. pharmacist said.Ryan Roux, chief pharmacy officer, Harris County Hospital District, said certain medicines can cause significant weight changes. Fox example, weight side-effects are common

TechnologyFeb. 28, 2012

Korea, China, Japan to meet on investment

Korea, China and Japan will hold a meeting this week for a three-way accord aimed at promoting corporate direct investment, Seoul’s Trade Ministry said Monday.The gathering will be held in Tokyo from Tuesday to Thursday, the ministry said.The three nations have been negotiating the trilateral investment treaty since 2007 and the upcoming round of talks may be the last one to finalize the terms of the accord, officials said.The pact may be signed by the leaders of the three nations in May when th

Feb. 27, 2012

Pension fund’s investment return tumbles in 2011

Korea’s national pension fund saw its investment yield tumble last year as the eurozone debt crisis and the global economic downturn increased market instability, it operator said Monday.The National Pension Service, the country’s largest stock investor, said it earned around 7.67 trillion won ($6.8 billion) last year, or a 2.31 percent investment return. That compares with a 10.39 percent return in 2010 and a 10.41 yield in 2009.The NPS said the detailed figures on its portfolio investment will

Feb. 27, 2012

Linked workshop for sales professionals

Linked Seoul, a business networking community, plans to hold a hands-on workshop in Seoul on March 6 for salespeople.The seminar is designed to help salespeople apply a variety of tools and techniques by using practical skill-building exercises.The workshop will be at the Renaissance Hotel’s Orchid Room in southern Seoul from 7-9 p.m. Attendance is 25,000 won and it will start with a networking session before the workshop. More information can be found at www.linkedseoul.org.

Feb. 27, 2012

KFDA commissioner to discuss policy direction

Commissioner Lee Hee-sung of the Korea Food and Drug Administration will speak about the government’s new policy at a luncheon meeting on Feb. 29 organized by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Korea.The KFDA is out to enhance preventive risk management systems, tighten safety management from raw materials to the final product, support competitive new industries, and reform regulations to promote autonomy and fairness.Cost for the luncheon is 100,000 won. To reserve a seat, contact Jeon H

Feb. 27, 2012

AMCHAM to examine IPR during luncheon

The American Chamber of Commerce will hold a luncheon meeting on March 7 to discuss the new intellectual property rights in a free trade era.Lim Won-sun, director general for Korea Intellectual Property Office, is scheduled to speak at AMCHAM’s IPR committee meeting regarding new changes to the copyright law. He was in charge of the copyright law amendments for the implementation of the Korea-U.S. and EU free trade agreements.Enquiries or to register, contact AMCHAM at (02) 6201-2200, e-mail amc

Feb. 27, 2012

Lecture on digital marketing in China

The China Europe International Business School’s Seoul office is hosting CEIBS dean professor John Quelch to deliver his newly crafted presentation on his latest passion, digital marketing in China, this week.Drawing upon his quarter of a century of experience at Harvard Business School and three years as Dean of the London Business School, Quelch will touch on the impact of such revolutionary trends as China’s growing hunger for online gaming, micro-blogging, Weibo (Chinese Twitter) and virtual

Feb. 27, 2012

ING art exhibition displays nature’s elements

The ING N.V. Seoul branch is running their annual in-house art exhibition project with the goal to enrich the cultural experience of their clients and employees and to promote young local talent.The project introduces artists whose works reflect a modern take on the traditional Korean art forms and concepts.This year’s program is titled “Naturally Beautiful: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water,” the three elements that is represented on the Korean flag.The works are on display at the ING Seoul Branch of

Feb. 27, 2012

HSBC profits hit $22 bln on Asia growth

HSBC Holdings, Europe's biggest bank, made a $21.9 billion profit last year, the largest among western banks, as its strength in Asia helped it cope with a euro zone debt crisis that has plunged many rivals into huge losses.HSBC, which makes more than three quarters of its pretax profit outside Euro

Feb. 27, 2012

Korean robotics industry picks up steam

Korea’s robotics industry is picking up steam as government-led pilot programs are spurring sales and exports, while carving out new niches in the fledgling market. About 200 local robotics firms are expected to have generated at least 2 trillion won ($1.77 billion) in output last year, an official at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said Monday, citing preliminary data. The ministry plans to release the final figures as early as June. Yet the tally is up about 12 percent from 2010 and more tha

IndustryFeb. 27, 2012

KT shows off femtocell technology

KT Corp. said Monday that it showcased its Long Term Evolution femtocell, a one-chip solution that combines the central processing unit and modem functionality, at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.Dubbed the finest technology being operated on the firm’s internet infrastructure, it is expected to guarantee voice quality not only indoors but also in underground areas, according to KT officials.Femtocell is a small base station which targets improving network connections for small indoor spa

IndustryFeb. 27, 2012

Regulator toughens lending rules at cooperatives, insurers

The financial regulator on Monday announced fresh rules to toughen household lending at non-bank financial companies, putting the brakes on burgeoning private sector debt, which is nearing 900 trillion won ($801 billion).Lenders in the secondary banking sector, including cooperatives, have been ordered to limit lending money to non-members of the credit firm to less than one-third of their total loan, according to the Financial Services Commission. The National Agricultural Cooperative Federatio

Feb. 27, 2012