South Korea’s central bank forecast Monday that oil prices are likely to stay above $100 per barrel for a considerable period of time due to tight supply and a potential pick-up in speculative investment.The Bank of Korea said in a report that prices of Dubai and Brent crude are staying at a high level despite an end of political turmoil in Libya and market jitters stemming from the eurozone debt crisis.Prices of Dubai crude, South Korea’s benchmark, have been largely trading at more than $100 p

HONG KONG (Yonhap News) ― Orion Corp., South Korea’s second-largest confectionery company, expects that its overseas sales will grow next year, largely driven by robust sales in China, company officials said Monday.The company, best-known for its hallmark “Choco Pie,” projected that its overseas sales will grow 28.4 percent to 1.31 trillion won ($1.17 billion), likely to surpass its domestic sales for the first time. Orion officials said China accounts for more than 80 percent of its overseas sa

South Korea is still facing a high level of inflation despite easing price hikes in recent months, the top economic policymaker said Monday, calling for more efforts to tackle structural problems to guarantee longer-term price stability.“The overall inflation level remains high and the real burden that ordinary people are feeling in their life has yet to be reduced significantly,” Finance Minister Bahk Jae-wan told an anti-inflation meeting.South Korea’s consumer prices rose 3.9 percent last mon

South Korean stocks finished 0.48 percent lower on Monday as investor sentiment was hurt by lingering uncertainty about the European debt situation, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.After opening 4.54 points higher, the benchmark KOSPI lost 9.31 points to 1,919.1. Trading volume was moderate at 342.9 million shares worth 1.09 trillion won ($957.8 million) with losers slightly leading gainers 415 to 400.“Europe’s sovereign debt issue still exerts great influence on t

Fitch Ratings on Monday raised Korea’s sovereign credit outlook to “positive” from “stable” and kept it’s A+ rating amid signs of improving economic fundamentals, sources said. The country’s sovereign credit fundamentals regained ground in terms of fiscal prudence, a strong sovereign balance sheet and foreign exchange liquidity, the sources close to the matter said.“Korea’s economic fundamentals are stronger than it was during the global financial crisis three years ago and the country has an ex

About 5,000 unionized workers of Korea Exchange Bank are scheduled to hold a day-long rally in Yeouido, Seoul on Tuesday, demanding financial regulators take punitive action against Lone Star Funds.Their planned gathering has been regarded as a strike amid the situation under which Lone Star, convicted of manipulating stocks of KEB’s credit affiliate, may leave the country with huge gains.The KEB union is also criticizing the Financial Services Commission for having been negligent in probing sha

Schmidt meets with President Lee, IT firms’ chiefs on cooperation in ’smart era’Google chairman Eric Schmidt pledged to support Internet startups in Korea and create a K-pop-only channel on YouTube in the world’s most popular search engine.Schmidt, who currently serves as the board executive chairman of Google, disclosed the pledges during his meeting with President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, presidential officials said.The two leaders also shared the view that Google and Korea’s

Korea’s Fair Trade Commission launched a probe into major footwear makers including Reebok, Ellesse and New Balance over ads allegedly exaggerating the shoes’ therapeutic benefits.According to the local press on Monday, the FTC has embarked on a comprehensive investigation of 11 shoemakers in Korea to check whether they put out exaggerated ads. “The FTC is currently collecting marketing, sales and product data from local shoemakers,” an industry source was quoted as saying. The crackdown comes a

GM Korea launched its sales of the Malibu, a midsize sedan of Chevrolet series, in the local market a week ago.Though the company is pinning hope on the Malibu for its goal to grab more than 10 percent of the Korean market, data showed that the sedan fell behind the similar sedans of major competitors in terms of fuel efficiency, engine performance and price competitiveness.According to each company’s data for sales at dealerships, the gasoline-fueled Malibu with an engine capacity of 2.0 liters

Despite low rates, time deposits at banks rise sharply in OctoberThe growing uncertainties in the global financial market has resulted in a sharp rise in Korea’s short-term capital seeking new investment channels, data showed on Monday. The increased liquidity, which is yet to be invested in appropriate vehicles, comes together with a ballooning of time deposits at major banks despite low interest rates. The twin growth of short-terms funds and outstanding term deposits underscores the dearth of

Cyworld has launched global services in seven languages on Monday amid the soaring popularity of Facebook in Korea. This is the second try for the homegrown social networking service with 23 million registered local members to go global following its failed attempt in 2005. “We failed because we tried to localize our services. But this time we aim to introduce a unique Cyworld platform for foreign users,” said Joo Hyung-chul, president and CEO of SK Communications, the operator. The CEO stressed