Loans extended by Japanese lenders in Korea drop, conglomerates remain large borrowers

The combined volume of loans extended by Japanese lenders operating here fell 5.4 percent on-month as of late June, data showed Tuesday. Meanwhile, loans taken out by local conglomerates accounted for more than half of the total volume, a report by the Financial Supervisory Service showed.According to the report submitted to a main opposition lawmaker, the volume of loans stood at 23.4 trillion won ($20 billion) as of late June, down 5.4 percent from 24.7 trillion won the previous month.  A

Aug. 20, 2019

Seoul stocks close higher on hope for US-China trade talks, stimulus

Seoul shares closed higher Monday after US President Donald Trump vowed to call his Chinese counterpart in a move to settle the escalating American-Sino trade dispute. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 12.73 points, or 0.66 percent, to 1,939.90. Trading volume was moderate at 472 million shares worth 3.68 trillion won ($3.12 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 633 to 207.The prospects are growing that the trade row between the w

Aug. 19, 2019

S. Korean banks criticized for ‘irresponsible selling’ of DLS products

South Korean banks and brokerages are in hot water for selling high-risk derivatives-linked securities and related funds to their customers, mostly retail investors, allegedly without providing sufficient warnings or instructions. According to the watchdog Financial Supervisory Service on Monday, eight major financial institutions here sold a combined 822.4 billion ($678.8 million) worth of DLS and funds that use the high-risk product to 3,654 individual investors and 188 businesses as of Aug. 7

Aug. 19, 2019

Seoul stocks likely to remain subdued next week on global economic woes

South Korean shares are likely to remain subdued next week amid lingering concerns over a global economic slowdown prompted by the US-China trade row, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 1927.17 points on Friday, up 0.34 percent from a week ago. The index suffered a 3 percent decline last week. Analysts said the market direction for next week will largely depend on developments in the US-China trade spat, although the latest moves from the world'

Aug. 17, 2019

Seoul stocks down on economic slowdown woes, Korean won advances

South Korean stocks closed lower Friday morning as investors remained worried over a global economic slowdown amid the protracted US-China trade war. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 11.20 points, or 0.58 percent, to 1,927.17. Trading volume was moderate at 413 million shares worth 4.18 trillion won ($3.4 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 644 to 203.The index dropped to as low as 1,911.72 at one point in the morning session

Aug. 16, 2019

Shinhan Bank Vietnam opens branch in Da Nang

Shinhan Bank Vietnam, the local subsidiary of South Korea’s major lender, opened four new branches in the Southeast Asian country this week, officials said Friday.It also became the first Korea-based bank there to run a complete nationwide network that covers the central region, with a branch in the popular tourist city of Da Nang. Shinhan Bank CEO Jin Ok-dong attended the opening ceremony on Thursday, along with key officials from the local government and the country’s central bank,

Aug. 16, 2019

[Weekender] Won, dollars and supernotes: How fake bills are detected

An average of 1,000 counterfeit bills are spotted and seized annually in South Korea -- many of them via KEB Hana Bank’s anti-counterfeiting center. With 15 employees and technology worth 1.5 billion won ($1.3 million), the unit handles 37 currencies and is responsible for nearly 80 percent of all counterfeit bill detection in the country. Situated in the basement of a KEB Hana Bank branch office in Euljiro, central Seoul, the center scrutinizes banknotes worth about 12 billion won every d

Aug. 16, 2019

S. Korea’s credit card spending on Japanese brands halves amid boycott

South Korean consumers cut back their credit card spending on products sold by Japanese brands here by nearly 50 percent as of end-July, a report by the nation’s financial watchdog showed Thursday.According to the report released by an opposition lawmaker, the combined card spending plummeted to 4.9 billion won ($4 million) in the fourth week of July, from 10.2 billion won in the last week of June. On-year, the combined credit card spending on Japanese products sold in Korea, fell 48 perce

Aug. 15, 2019

Leadership reshuffles to sweep across banking industry

The Korean financial circle is expected to undergo extensive reshuffling in the upcoming months as the chief executive officers of major banking groups will finish their terms early next year. Among them are Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung, whose term will last until the general shareholders meeting slated for March next year. While a candidate recommendation committee will kick off in January, Cho’s bid for reappointment will largely depend on the result of an ongoin

Aug. 13, 2019

KRX to launch Kospi 200 weekly options

South Korea’s bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX) said Tuesday it will introduce weekly options contracts based on the Kospi 200 index on Sept. 23, in a bid to boost the local derivatives market. The Kospi 200 options will be introduced every Thursday and expire a week later. The new product will contribute to the diversity of options contracts on Kospi 200, comprised of the largest listed common stocks traded on the nation’s main bourse and widely used as a benchmark, according to

Aug. 13, 2019

Daily stock turnover dips in July amid market turmoil

Daily stock turnover in South Korea dropped to the lowest level of the year in July, data showed Sunday, apparently reflecting investor sentiments spooked by escalating trade disputes between the United States and China, as well as South Korea's own trade haggling with Japan.The daily trading volume of local stocks came to some 8.6 trillion won ($7.1 billion) last month, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the operator of the Seoul bourse. The reading marks a drop of 4 percent from the same m

Aug. 11, 2019

Seoul shares may face volatile sessions next week amid trade woes

Seoul stocks may face increased volatility next week, largely depending on the development of an ongoing US-China trade row, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed up 0.9 percent at 1,937.75 points on Friday helped by strong export data in China and expectations that the United States and China will resume their negotiations in September.This week, the main index shed 3 percent as investors remained jittery over the escalating trade feud between Was

Aug. 10, 2019

Investors eye leveraged, inverse ETFs amid high market volatility

Investors are flocking to high-risk leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds in South Korea, resulting in an increase in the daily average trading volume.According to the stock market operator Korea Exchange, the combined daily average trading volume of leveraged and inverse ETFs from July 26 to Thursday amounted to nearly 1.3 trillion won ($1.1 billion). It is 81.3 percent higher compared to the corresponding figure of 701.7 billion won in June.  A leveraged ETF uses financial derivativ

Aug. 9, 2019

BOK report hints at possible rate cut in near future

South Korea's central bank again hinted at a possible rate reduction in the near future Thursday, saying the escalating trade dispute between the United States and China, as well as the country's own trade conflict with Japan, may put additional downward pressure on Asia's fourth-largest economy.The Bank of Korea "plans to maintain the easing stance of its monetary policy as upward pressure on price increases is expected to remain weak, while the growth of the local economy remains slow,&qu

Aug. 8, 2019

Seoul stocks extend gains, won advances late Thursday morning

Seoul stocks extended gains late Thursday morning although investors remain wary over the worsening US-China trade war and Japan's export curbs. The won gained against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 20.57 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1,930.28 as of 11:20 a.m. The main index shed 6.3 percent in the past six sessions. Japan's trade ministry on Wednesday officially announced the exclusion of South Korea from its "whitelist" of trusted trading partners tha

Aug. 8, 2019

Seoul stocks dip for 6th straight session, Korean won slightly up amid US-China trade war woes

South Korean shares fell for the sixth consecutive session on Wednesday as market sentiment still remained fragile over escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, despite some signs of calm after China moved to stabilize its currency. The Korean won held steady against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index declined 7.79 points, or 0.41 percent, to 1,909.71, marking the lowest level since Feb. 18, 2016, when the index stood at 1,908.84.It was the first time

Aug. 7, 2019

S. Korea to launch M&A consultative body in response to Japan’s export curbs

South Korea’s financial authorities said Wednesday they plan to launch a consultative body by the end of the month to help local firms seeking mergers and acquisitions that could reduce the country’s dependency on imported materials from Japan. The plan is in line with the government’s contingency plans -- announced a few days ago in response to Japan’s decision to remove Korea from its list of trusted trade partners -- including financial support for firms eyeing a foray

Aug. 7, 2019

CarrieSoft to be listed on Kosdaq this month

CarrieSoft announced Tuesday that it plans to get listed on South Korea’s secondary bourse Kosdaq on Aug. 23.The firm first began with the YouTube channel “Carrie and Toys” in 2014 and exclusively produces kids’ contents. It is home to the iconic character “Carrie,” who reviews popular toys and goods. The character has evolved and now has own branded products.  Last year, CarrieSoft’s sales reached 10 billion won ($8.25 million) with an operating lo

Aug. 6, 2019

Kospi dips under 1,900 for first time in 3 years

South Korea’s benchmark Kospi dipped below the 1,900 mark for the first time in three years Tuesday, with risks stemming from the ongoing trade row between Seoul and Tokyo, the intensifying trade war between Washington and Beijing, and Pyongyang’s latest missile launches pushing the market down. The Kospi fell 1.51 percent from the previous trading to close at 1,917.5. It rebounded slightly after falling to 1,891.81 in the early trading hours. The 1,891.81 point marked the lowes

Aug. 6, 2019

Korean won dips further amid looming currency war

The South Korean won continued to sink to new lows against the US dollar Tuesday amid escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies that now appear to be set to include a currency war.After opening at 1,220.00 won, the local currency was changing hands at 1,217.45 won with the US dollar as of 9:37 a.m., down 2.15 won from the previous session's close.On Monday, the won closed at 1,215.30 to the dollar, the lowest in over three years.The won's continued decline came after Be

Aug. 6, 2019