Retail investors’ stock investment deposits hit all-time high of W77.9tr

South Korean retail investors’ deposits for stock investments reached a record 77.9 trillion ($69.28 billion) as of Monday, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association Wednesday. The outstanding deposits for stock investments marked some 77.9 trillion won, adding a whopping 19.49 trillion won from Friday. It also surpassed the previous record of 74.46 trillion won seen on Jan. 12. Deposits in cash management accounts here also surged by 22.97 trillion won to 68.39 trillion

May 5, 2021

Number of under-20s with Samsung shares skyrockets

The number of Samsung Electronics shareholders who are under 20 years old has jumped nearly 90-fold over the past five years, according to data released Wednesday. Data compiled by securities information portal SEIBro, operated by Korea Securities Depository, showed that the number of Samsung Electronics’ shareholders aged 0-19 increased from 1,290 at the end of 2016 to around 115,000 as of the end of December 2020. Those under 20 accounted for 5.34 percent of the tech giant‘s sto

May 5, 2021

S. Korea to expand loan program for developing nations with ADB

South Korea said Tuesday it plans to allocate up to $700 million for the lower-interest loan program with the Asian Development Bank, in line with efforts to support developing nations. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki held a virtual meeting with ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa and signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the Economic Development Cooperation Fund program between South Korea and the regional development bank, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The newly earmark

May 4, 2021

Altcoins back in rally mode after pull-back

Cryptocurrencies have been rallying again with some digital coins, like Dogecoin and Ethereum, hitting record highs recently. The prices of coins tumbled last month as governments around the world hinted that they would strengthen regulations on cryptocurrencies, which have no intrinsic value. Ethereum, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, spiked to an all-time high of 4,527,000 won ($4,038) on Tuesday, up 7.12 percent, according to local crypto exchange Upbit The European Inv

May 4, 2021

Kospi may surpass 4,000 if included in MSCI World Index: report

South Korea’s main bourse Kospi could reach 4,035 points if the local market is bumped up into the MSCI World Index, which represents large and mid-cap equity performance across 24 developed nations, a local think tank said Tuesday. The Korea Economic Research Institute predicted that the inclusion, one step up from its current listing as an emerging market, would help the stock market see an inflow of foreign investments, amounting to up to 61.1 trillion won ($54.5 billion). The inclu

May 4, 2021

Seoul stocks rebound on 2nd day of resumed short selling

South Korean stocks rebounded on Tuesday, the second day of resumed short selling, after a five-session losing streak as institutions scooped up local stocks. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 20.17 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 3,147.37 points. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.3 billion shares worth some 15.6 trillion won ($13.9 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 433 to 422. Foreigners sold a net 74 bi

May 4, 2021

[Market Close-up] War over digital financing looms as traditional banks jump into online-only services

Faster than anyone could have imagined, South Korea’s IT platforms, which have had no banking experience at all, have quickly become a dominant force in the nation’s retail banking scene.  The COVID-19 pandemic has been defining moment for digital transformation, according to industry watchers, with the rising number of consumers preferring non-face-to-face banking services.  According to the Bank of Korea, the volume of money transfers and loan applications carried out

May 4, 2021

Mirae Asset Securities seeks to enter short-term financing market

South Korea’s regulator Financial Services Commission on Tuesday started to discuss Mirae Asset Securities’ entry to short-term financing market, a decision that would grant the brokerage official status as a mega investment bank. Four trillion won ($3.57 billion) in equity capital is a prerequisite for a mega investment bank to issue a promissory note with a maximum limit of 200 percent of its equity capital with a maturity of one year or less. As of the end of December, Mirae Asse

May 4, 2021

Buyout firm VIG Partners eyes private credit investing

South Korean private equity firm VIG Partners is eyeing private credit strategies with a new team it established Monday, the company said Tuesday. The company, overseeing 3.8 trillion won ($3.4 billion) worth of private funds mainly dedicated to midmarket buyout strategies, added that it had hired Han Young-hwan as head of credit at VIG Partners. The credit arm will focus on special situations in private credit space, looking to take advantage of price dislocation in the belief that the debt a

May 4, 2021

Seoul stocks open lower on inflation concerns

South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday on inflation concerns and the partial resumption of short selling. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 10.66 points, or 0.34 percent, to 3,116.54 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. The KOSPI got off to a weak start after a five-session losing streak. Bio and tech shares dropped amid rising inflation, which could help raise market rates, while bank shares performed strong. South Korea's consumer price index rose 2.3 perc

May 4, 2021

Seoul stocks down for 5th day on return of short selling

South Korea’s stock market retreated for a fifth consecutive session Monday amid strong foreign and institutional selling on the first day the government lifted a 14-month ban on short selling of large-cap stocks. The local currency’s value against the US greenback also weakened. The main bourse Kospi closed at 3,127.2 points, down 20.66 points or 0.66 percent, from the previous session’s close. The index began trading at 3,149.05 points and once rose up to 3,174.26 points in

May 3, 2021

[Top Bankers] NH NongHyup speeds up global expansion under new CEO

This is a part of a series of interviews and analyses of South Korea’s top bankers, policymakers and investors leading the financial industry here. This is the fifth installment. -- Ed. Throughout its 60-year history, South Korea’s NH NongHyup Bank managed to build an unparalleled reputation as the nation’s most successful agricultural and commercial bank. Hinting its popularity among Koreans in retail banking, its net profit in the first three months of this year gained ro

May 3, 2021

More than half of Koreans support tax on crypto gains: survey

More than half of Koreans favor taxation on gains from cryptocurrency trading, a survey showed on Monday, lending support to the government’s move to levy tax on the digital assets. 　 According to a poll by local survey firm Realmeter, 53.7 percent of the people polled said they back the planned taxation on cryptocurrency next year while 38.3 percent of them said they opposed the plan. Female respondents were more supportive over the taxation scheme over male respondents. The percentage

May 3, 2021

65% of S. Koreans in 40s boost retirement savings

A growing number of South Koreans in their 40s have increased savings to prepare for life after retirement, a report said Monday.  The survey published by Hana Bank’s in-house research center showed that nearly 42 percent of 1,000 people born between 1972 and 1981 answered that they feel the urge to save money for their later lives, among other things. The list of their priorities on spending included home purchases and children’s private education with 36 percent and 16 perc

May 3, 2021

Regulator to take stern actions against illegal short selling

South Korea's financial regulator said Monday the country will take stern actions against illegal activities involving stock short selling as it allowed a partial resumption of short selling after a 14-month ban. The Financial Services Commission (FSC) partially lifted its ban on short selling of some listed stocks after it imposed a six-month ban on the trading strategy in March last year and later extended it to ease market routs caused by the pandemic. Short selling is a trading strategy in

May 3, 2021

Seoul stocks open lower on 1st day of resumed short selling

South Korea's key stock index opened lower Monday after a four-session losing streak, as investors took to the sidelines on the first day of partially resumed short selling. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) fell 5.07 points, or 0.16 percent, to 3,142.79 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. Beginning Monday, the country's financial authorities lifted short selling ban on 200 market heavyweights on the main bourse and 150 companies on the tech-laden Kosdaq market. I

May 3, 2021

Limited impact expected from ease of short selling restriction on stocks

Analysts expected a partial lifting of South Korea’s ban on short selling of large-cap stocks on the Kospi 200 and Kosdaq 150 indexes on Monday will have a limited impact on the market. The country is set to ease bans on the indexes about 14 months after it imposed the restriction to protect investors from a sudden market fall triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Brushing aside retail investors’ concerns over a possible drop in stock prices, market watchers the equity market is un

May 2, 2021

Woori to launch comprehensive mobile payment solution

South Korea’s Woori Financial Group said Sunday it has decided to launch a comprehensive mobile payment solution platform to establish ground in the digital payment market, currently dominated by fintech firms. The solution will integrate and offer the payment services for all of the group’s subsidiaries and affiliates, including Woori Bank and Woori Card. Through the platform, the group is seeking to reach beyond its existing customers. It will grant access to users with no Woor

May 2, 2021

NH NongHyup wins license to operate branch in Hong Kong

NH NongHyup Bank, one of South Korea’s five major banks, said Sunday that it has been granted a license to operate a branch in Hong Kong, taking a solid step towards global expansion. With the green light given by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Thursday, the lender will make a foray into Asia’s largest financial hub. NH NongHyup plans to launch its Hong Kong branch by the end of the year, after selecting the location of its headquarters, according to the firm. “Hong Ko

May 2, 2021

[Top Investors] Park Hyun-joo, Korea’s Warren Buffett -- what’s his next move?

This is the first installment of a series of interviews with South Korea’s leading investors and strategists, and analyses of their insights on markets and future investment. -- Ed. Mirae Asset Financial Group Chairman Park Hyun-joo and his empire, one of South Korea’s largest asset management firms, were on a roller coaster ride last year as the group backed out of large acquisition deals and fought a series of lawsuits. Just six months before the pandemic hit the global market,

May 2, 2021