[EQUITIES] Mirae Asset forecasts improved earnings for LG Hausys in H2

[THE INVESTOR] Mirae Asset Securities on July 13 issued a report saying it expects construction materials producer LG Hausys’ earnings to improve in the latter half of this year.During the second quarter, the firm’s sales and operating profit was estimated at 755.6 billion won (US$656.54 million) and 50.9 billion won, respectively. The figures are in line with market consensus. The report said a B2B construction materials market expansion this year is expected to continue bolstering the firm’s g

July 13, 2016

[EQUITIES] Yuanta Securities forecasts Samsung Electronics’ 2017 operating profit at W31tr

[THE INVESTOR] Yuanta Securities said in a July 13 report that Samsung Electronics is likely to maintain strong growth next year. Its estimates showed the world’s largest tech company posting an annual operating profit of 31 trillion won (US$ 26.93 billion) on a consolidated basis in 2017. The release of the next iPhone from Samsung’s global rival Apple may pose a risk in the latter half of 2017, the report said, but expected solid growth in semiconductor chips and displays will offset it.In the

July 13, 2016

[EQUITIES]SK Securities sees LG Display performance rebounding in Q3

[THE INVESTOR] SK Securities said LG Display -- the world’s No.1 producer of large-sized LCD-panels -- is expected to see its third-quarter earnings rebound following significant declines in the second quarter.“A fall in liquid-crystal display panel supply, combined with reduced production from Samsung Display, is likely to push up panel prices in the third quarter,” the brokerage said in a report on July 13. Its estimates showed LG Display’s third-quarter sales at 6.79 trillion won (US$5.89 bil

July 13, 2016

Korea Asset in Trust to float shares on July 13

[THE INVESTOR] Real estate trust company Korea Asset in Trust has gained the final approval for listing on the main bourse, Korea Exchange said on July 11. Korea Asset In Trust is set to go public on Korea’s benchmark KOSPI on July 13 with an IPO price of 10,300 won (US$8.97) per share.Established in 2001, KAIT is the market leader in real estate trust companies in Korea, which posted 834 billion won in operating income and 36.3 billion won in net profit last year. The company’s affiliates inclu

July 12, 2016

Hyundai Investment Securities projects 26.6% decline in Hyundai Wia’s Q2 earnings

[THE INVESTOR] HMC Investment Securities has forecast that machinery maker Hyundai Wia will suffer a 26.6 percent decrease in its second quarter operating profit at 97.4 billion won (US$ 84.59 million). Sales are also expected to decline, by 1.1 percent to 1.98 trillion won, the brokerage said. Both figures are below market estimates.However, Hyundai Investment said that sales would recover in the latter half of the year. The brokerage lowered its target price on Hyundai Wia shares to 130,000 wo

July 12, 2016

Bond specialists expect no change in Korea's base rate

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean bond market experts expect the Bank of Korea to keep the benchmark rate unchanged this month, a survey showed on July 12. A survey conducted by the Korea Financial Investment Association showed that 91.2 percent of bond market specialists expect the 1.25 percent rate to be unchanged at the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting.The committee is set to convene on July 14. BOK governor Lee Ju-yeolThe association said that the central bank is likely to keep the rate

July 12, 2016

[EQUITIES] Shinhan Investment forecasts LG Life Sciences’ Q2 earnings to nearly double

[THE INVESTOR] Shinhan Investment on July 12 said it expects LG Life Sciences to post a 99.4 percent increase on-year in its second-quarter operating profit to reach 6.9 billion won (US$ 5.99 million).The projections are higher than the market consensus of 5.9 billion won.Shinhan said robust sales of both existing and new products will be the driving factors. Quarterly sales are consequently expected to rise 15.4 percent to reach 119.6 billion won in line with analysts’ forecasts. By Kim Ji-hyun

July 12, 2016

[EQUITIES] Yuanta Securities forecasts Kolon Industries’ earnings to double in 2016

[THE INVESTOR] Yuanta Securities forecast that industrial materials maker Kolon Industries’ earnings would double this year on eased legal woes. The brokerage said this year’s operating profit would reach 336 billion won (US$ 291.81 million), up from the 168.8 billion posted in 2014. “Kolon Industries had seen its corporate value deteriorate from 2012 to 2015 due to a lengthy legal battle with US-based Dupon, but the situation is now over,” the report said. Kolon settled the case in May 2015. Ko

July 12, 2016