Korea Line Corp., Korea’s second-largest operator of dry-bulk ships, filed for receivership after rates tumbled to the lowest in almost two years because of a global oversupply of vessels. The filing was made at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, the company said in a regulatory statement. It didn’t say how large its debts were. Seven calls to the Seoul-based company, including to its me

Industry Jan. 25, 2011

SK Telecom Co., Korea’s largest mobile-phone operator, has reported fourth-quarter profits which climbed 48 percent, helped by demand from smartphone users.Net income rose to 361.4 billion won ($323 million) from 244.2 billion won a year earlier, the Seoul-based company said in a statement Tuesday. That compares with the 405.4 billion won average of 13 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg in th

Technology Jan. 25, 2011

Childbirths in Korea grew for the ninth consecutive month in November as the economic recovery encouraged couples to have more babies, a report showed Monday.According to the report by Statistics Korea, the number of babies born in November was about 41,200, up 17 percent or 6,000 from the same month a year earlier. The latest figure marked the ninth consecutive on-year growth since last March. It

Jan. 24, 2011

HONG KONG (Yonhap News) ― Korea’s KB Asset Management Co. said Monday it has obtained approval from Chinese authorities to invest up to $100 million in local securities, gaining greater access to one of the world’s most rapidly growing stock markets.The approval, granted by China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) last week, will allow KB Asset Management to launch a collective inve

Industry Jan. 24, 2011

Korea reported an additional case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the central part of the country Monday, in the midst of nationwide vaccination and quarantine efforts.The farm ministry said some cattle at a farm in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, about 220 kilometers southeast of Seoul, tested positive for the highly contagious animal disease after animals started showing symptoms over t

Jan. 24, 2011

Korean stocks closed 0.59 percent higher on Monday as institutional investors hunted for bargains, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 12.24 points to 2,082.16. Trading volume was moderate at 335.1 million shares worth 6.01 trillion won ($5.37 billion), but losers outnumbered gainers 412 to 396.“Institutional

Jan. 24, 2011

HONG KONG (Yonhap News) ― Only about half of Korean companies operating in China have turned out to be successful, despite their rush into the world’s second-largest economy, a poll showed Sunday.According to the survey on 212 Korean firms, taken by the Korea International Trade Association’s (KITA) Shanghai office, 55.7 percent of the firms assessed their business in China as “successful.” Among

Jan. 24, 2011

Korean banks raised more funds last year than 2009 as risk-averse investors piled into lenders’ savings deposits, the financial regulator said Monday.Eighteen local banks’ fund raising through deposits and debt issuance expanded by a net 35.5 trillion won ($31.7 billion) last year, bringing their outstanding funds to 1,161.4 trillion won as of the end of December, the Financial Supervisory Service

Jan. 24, 2011

Citigroup Inc. recommended stocks in Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong as manufacturing companies gain in an inflationary environment amid global economic growth.“Higher inflation and higher rates benefit growth- sensitive markets, such as Korea and Taiwan and general asset plays like Hong Kong,” according to a report by Citigroup analysts led by Markus Rosgen. “Inflation shifts profits from consumption

Industry Jan. 24, 2011

Gmarket face 16.9 billion won in back taxes on underreported revenueOnline retailers are concerned about possible taxation on their discount sales after state auditors last week ordered Gmarket to pay 16.9 billion won ($15.12 million) in back taxes on underreported revenue. The Board of Audit and Inspection judged on Thursday that the top online marketplace operator evaded value added taxes by exc

Jan. 24, 2011

Hyundai Motors Co. will shuffle production of two models between its Czech factory and a plant operated in neighboring Slovakia by the carmaker’s affiliate, Kia Motors Corp.The factory near Zilina, Northern Slovakia, will take over production of Kia Venga compact cars, which are currently assembled in the Czech Republic, according to Dusan Dvorak, spokesman for the unit. Similarly, production of H

Mobility Jan. 23, 2011

Korea’s financial regulator is considering loosening regulations over private equity funds, a move that may open the gates to local hedge funds. The country’s tight limits on short-selling leverage rates and types of assets allowed for investment have constrained local funds’ growth and investment targets.“The Financial Services Commission is seeking to revise the capital market law by the end of

Jan. 20, 2011

Korean stocks ended 0.43 percent lower on Thursday on profit-taking and worries over China’s further monetary tightening, analysts said. The local currency dropped against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 9.03 percent to 2,106.66, retreating from an all-time high of 2,115.69 a day earlier. Trading volume was moderate at 328.8 million shares worth 6.4

Jan. 20, 2011