Peers are influential when it comes to alcohol and drug use, and they are just as influential online as they are in person, U.S. researchers suggest. Sarah Stoddard and colleagues at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor conducted an online survey of 3,447 of U.S. adults ages 18-24. The survey found those who thought their parents and peers would be upset if they viewed images of their drinking and drug use online were less likely to drink. In addition, young adults who

Weber Shandwick, a global public relations firm, announced that Korean digital and social media communications specialist, SocialLink, has signed to merge its business into Weber Shandwick Korea on Wednesday. The owner and of SocialLink and digital communications specialist, Juny Lee, will take the seat of vice president of Weber Shandwick Korea. Lee said that the firm would continue to provide services directly to all of SocialLink’s existing clients. The merger expected to expand Weber Shandwi

South Korean stocks started higher on Wednesday, fueled by gains in blue-chip exporters, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) increased 0.53 percent, or 10.02 points, to 1909.60 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares gathered ground across the board, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics rising 0.46 percent and its smaller rival LG Electronics gaining 0.4 percent. Leading automaker Hyundai Motor climbed 0.67 percent.The U.S. stock market was closed on Tue

South Korea's industrial output crept up in September from a year earlier, but its growth pace remained sluggish apparently affected by cooling demand amid concerns over the eurozone debt crisis and global slowdowns, a government report showed Wednesday.According to the report by Statistics Korea, production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries grew 0.7 percent last month from a year earlier, quickening from the previous month's 0.3 percent on-year gain. The output also g

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest automaker, and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., had their credit ratings upgraded one level by Moody’s Investors Service, citing the carmakers’ profitability and global reach.Ratings on the senior unsecured bonds of the two Seoul- based automakers were raised to Baa1, the third-lowest investment grade, from “Baa2,” Moody’s said in a statement Tuesday. The outlook for the rating, which affects about $2.1 billion in debt, is stable, Moody’s said.The higher c

South Korea’s current account surplus widened in September from the previous month as exports expanded at a faster rate than imports, the central bank said Tuesday.The current account surplus reached $6.07 billion in September, up from a revised $2.5 billion in the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea. The current account is the broadest measure of cross-border trade.The September figure marked the largest surplus since a record high of $6.14 billion in July.The September surplus marke

Samsung SDI Co., the world’s top maker of plasma display panels and renewable batteries, said Tuesday its net profit jumped more than 10-fold in the third quarter from a year earlier thanks to solid battery sales and a one-off profit.Net profit came to 1.2 trillion won ($1.1 billion) in the July-September period, compared with a profit of 100 billion won the previous year, the company said in a regulatory filing.Sales increased 3.8 percent on-year to 1.5 trillion won in the cited period, while o

South Korean stocks closed 0.43 percent higher Tuesday, driven by foreign and institutional buying amid widening political uncertainties over the U.S. presidential race, analysts said. The local currency rose against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index advanced 8.06 points to finish at 1,899.58. Trading volume as light at 317.6 million shares worth 3.20 trillion won ($2.92 billion) with gainers outstripping losers 485 to 313. “Political uncertainties over how the U.S.