Seoul stocks advance on hopes for Ukraine-Russia talks

South Korean stocks closed higher Monday after choppy trading, backed by reports that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to talks. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 22.42 points, or 0.84 percent, to close at 2,699.18 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 604 million shares worth some 12.7 trillion won ($10.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 631 to 240. Foreigners bought a net 89 billion won and retail investors p

Feb. 28, 2022

KB draws W543b commitment to finance wind turbine project in Jeju

South Korea’s KB Kookmin Bank said Monday it has snapped up a combined 543 billion won ($450 million) commitment to a private fund to finance a 100-megawatt wind turbine project on the southern resort island of Jeju. The private fund, which marks the largest here in terms of those tied to renewable energy, will target 18 offshore wind turbines on Jeju Island, generating a combined 100 megawatts. The value of the total project amounts to 630.3 billion won and the construction of the offsho

Feb. 28, 2022

Seoul stocks open lower amid Ukraine uncertainties

South Korean stocks opened lower Monday, as investors remained cautious amid the Ukraine tensions. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) retreated 9.61 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,667.15 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. Stocks dropped as investors digest a new set of sanctions by the United States and Western nations on Russia over the Kremlin's attack on Ukraine. Most stocks retreated in Seoul, led by foreign and institutional sell-offs. Market bellwether Samsung E

Feb. 28, 2022

Market regulators, banks mull Ukraine contingencies

South Korea’s financial regulators have begun drafting contingency arrangements, such as ramping up market monitoring and readying market stabilization funds, to grapple with the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, which has led the local stock market to shed 162 trillion won ($134 billion) over the last two months. “At alert level 2, we’re keeping an eye on the stock market and prepared to deploy our resources, should it need our intervention,” a source with knowledge

Feb. 27, 2022

Hana Bank to expand art wealth management

Hana Bank said Sunday it will expand its wealth management services to trading art pieces -- both physical and digital -- amid growing retail demand for alternative assets. Hana Bank has forged a partnership with Seoul Auction Blue, an online auction house, to jointly work on developing new businesses such as nonfungible tokens and metaverse platforms, and operating online education and community platforms on art. The two will also provide traditional art services including artwork sales, art

Feb. 27, 2022

Trading of Seoul shares likely to be volatile next week amid Ukraine risks

South Korean stocks are expected to face highly volatile sessions next week as investors will pay keen attention to situations in Ukraine and the US Federal Reserve's updated stance on its monetary policy, analysts said Saturday. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,676.76 on Friday, down 2.45 percent from a week earlier, amid jitters over the escalating tensions in Ukraine as Russia launched a military offensive in the East European neighbor. KOSPI rebounded on

Feb. 26, 2022

Seoul stocks plunge over 2% on escalating Ukraine crisis

South Korean stocks plunged more than 2 percent Thursday, as investor sentiment worsened over Russia's launch of military operations in eastern Ukraine. The Korean won steeply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) tumbled 70.73 points, or 2.6 percent, to close at 3,029.57 points. Trading volume was high at about 904 million shares worth some 13.1 trillion won ($10.9 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 797 to 108. Foreigners dumped a net 681 bi

Feb. 24, 2022

Hana partners with KAIST to boost scientific approach towards carbon neutrality

South Korea’s Hana Financial Group has partnered up with the nation’s top university in science and technology to bolster the scientific approach toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. On Thursday, Hana said it signed a deal with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology with the goal of developing new technology based on environmental, social and governance values. The goal would be based on the institutions’ joint efforts to resolve climate change issues,

Feb. 24, 2022

Seoul stocks open steeply lower amid escalating Ukraine tensions

South Korean stocks opened steeply lower Thursday, tracking overnight plunges on Wall Street that stemmed from rising tensions in Ukraine. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 28.85 points, or 1.06 percent, to 2,690.08 points as of 9:15 a.m. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite tumbled 2.57 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 1.38 percent as Ukraine declared a state of emergency and Washington said a Russian invasion of Ukraine remains imminen

Feb. 24, 2022

Corporate direct financing nearly triples in Jan.

Corporate direct financing in South Korea nearly tripled in January from the previous month due mainly to a massive initial public offering (IPO), data showed Thursday. Local companies raised a combined 27.53 trillion won ($23.1 billion) by selling stocks and bonds last month, up 172.5 percent from December, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service. Direct financing refers to raising funds directly from the stock and bond markets without borrowing from banks and other financi

Feb. 24, 2022

Kospi slightly gains on institutional, retail buying

The benchmark Kospi rose Wednesday on stock purchases led by institutions and retail investors, who guarded against a sell-off by foreign investors, as investor appetite appeared affected little by developments in the Russia-Ukraine standoff. The Kospi ended 0.47 percent, or 12.74 points, higher than Tuesday’s closing at 2,719.53, reversing the last two days of drops. The index reached an intraday high of 2,729.56 and low of 2,705.31. Institutions and individuals snatched up shares

Feb. 23, 2022

Seoul stocks advance amid Western sanctions on Russia

South Korean stocks climbed Wednesday, in the wake of the United States and its European allies' announcement of financial sanctions against Russia over the move to dispatch Russian troops to Ukraine. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) advanced 12.74 points, or 0.47 percent, to close at 2,719.53 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 527 million shares worth some 9 trillion won ($7.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers

Feb. 23, 2022

Korean youths flock to state-backed savings account

South Koreans aged between 19 and 34 rushed to open a state-backed savings account with a high yield of some 10 percent this week, with the product attracting nearly two million applicants as of Wednesday. The state-backed savings account launched Monday -- dubbed the Youth Hope Savings Product -- is designed specifically for those aged between 19 and 34 with an annual income of or below 36 million won ($30,100). It requires applicants to submit a monthly payment of 500,000 won for a 2-year ter

Feb. 23, 2022

Seoul stocks open higher amid looming Western sanctions on Russia

South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday, as the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom mull sanctions against Russia over its move to dispatch troops to Ukraine. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) advanced 15.52 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,722.31 points as of 9:15 a.m. The Kospi rebounded after a two-day retreat from the rising tensions in Ukraine. Washington criticized the Kremlin's decision to dispatch what Russia called "peacekeeping forces" into eas

Feb. 23, 2022

Amid digitalization drive, banks expand offline services for wealthy

South Korean banking groups are opening more offline asset management centers exclusively for the nation’s superrich, while closing regular branches and replacing them with mobile and artificial intelligence-based services. On Tuesday, Shinhan Financial Group said it upgraded and rebranded two of its wealth management centers in Seoul to focus on providing exclusive banking services for its clients with personal assets of over 10 billion won ($8.3 million). The wealth management centers

Feb. 22, 2022

Market volatility escalates on Ukraine worries

Market volatility escalated Tuesday on news that Russia ordered troops into separatist-held eastern Ukraine, dragging down the nation’s stock indexes as well as virtual assets and sparking concerns that the geopolitical unrest is likely to expand short-term uncertainty in the financial market. The benchmark Kospi ended lower Tuesday as investors raced to dump risky assets, falling to 2,706.79, down 1.35 percent or 37.01 points from Monday’s closing. The Kospi, which has seen i

Feb. 22, 2022

BOK to beef up monitoring of economic fallout from Ukraine crisis

South Korea's central bank said Tuesday that it will closely monitor the development of escalating tensions in Ukraine on concerns that the geopolitical risk could increase market volatility and negatively affect the domestic economy. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine after recognizing their independence, which raised the possibility of Russia invading Ukraine, dampening hopes for a diplomatic solution. Policym

Feb. 22, 2022

Seoul stocks open sharply lower over escalating Ukraine tensions

South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Tuesday as Russia sent in forces to parts of Ukraine. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 42.05 points, or 1.53 percent, to 2,701.75 points as of 9:15 a.m. Investors dumped local stocks following reports that Russian dispatched what it called "peacekeeping forces" to eastern Ukraine. Most large caps slumped in Seoul, led by foreign sell-offs. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics decreased 1.89 percent, and No. 2 chipmak

Feb. 22, 2022

Market volatility intensifies over Ukraine crisis

Mounting concerns over Russia’s possible invasion of Ukraine are increasingly weighing on an already jumpy local stock market, as investors price in a full-blown geopolitical crisis that could send foreigners holding Korean shares fleeing back home. The benchmark Kospi tumbled to 2,743.80, down 0.03 percent or 0.72 points from Friday’s closing. Foreigners, whose holdings account for a little over 30 percent of all Korean stocks, and institutions were net sellers, offloading 64 billi

Feb. 21, 2022

Seoul stocks end nearly flat amid hopes of US-Russia summit over Ukraine

South Korean stocks closed almost unchanged Monday after paring most of its earlier heavy losses due to hopes of a summit between the United States and Russia over the Ukraine crisis. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) slipped 0.72 points, or 0.03 percent, to close at 2,743.8 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 484 million shares worth some 7.8 trillion won ($6.5 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 430 to 399. Instit

Feb. 21, 2022