The Korea Herald

KT&G renews Esse Golden Leaf design

IndustryJan 24, 2011

KT&G Corp., Korea’s largest tobacco manufacturer, will roll out a repackaged version of its Esse Golden Leaf product at the end of January, the firm said Monday. The cigarette packaging was created in collaboration with Najeonchilgi master Park Jae-seong, the firm said. Najeonchilgi is a traditional mother of pearl craft where colorful pieces of shellfish are inlaid on an object and then applied w
Childbirths grow for 9th month in Nov.

Jan 24, 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
KB Asset wins nod for investment in China

IndustryJan 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
Korea confirms additional FMD case

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
Seoul shares up on institutional buying

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
Only half of Korean firms succeed in China: poll

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
Banks’ fund raising jumps due to deposit growth

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
Companies splurging on iPads could be sign of recovery

IndustryJan 24, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― The news last week that Apple’s Steve Jobs is taking a leave of absence was a big story. But something else about the company got far less attention and could be even more important to investors this year.Corporations “are adding iPads to their approved device list at an amazing rate,” Peter Oppenheimer, Apple Inc.’s chief financial officer, told analysts Tuesday. Apple’s products,
GS head stresses innovation, collaboration

IndustryJan 24, 2011

GS Group chairman Huh Chang-soo recently stressed executives’ dedication to growth and innovation as key to its ambition to become a leading global firm. Despite the good results the group has been achieving over the past few years in an unfavorable local business environment, Huh said the group should not be satisfied with its performance. GS Group chairman Huh Chang-soo “Based on the performance
SKT introduces multi-gadget content platform

IndustryJan 24, 2011

SK Telecom, the nation’s No. 1 telecom operator, launched on Monday a “numerous screen” (n-Screen) platform that allows users to access the same content from multiple devices based on cloud computing technology. The “hoppin” service allows subscribers to use media content in its server on smartphones, computers, tablet PCs and televisions through a Wi-Fi network with a one-time payment. For instan
Watchdog launches sweeping probe on firms

Jan 24, 2011

40 large firms and suppliers face investigation over price collusion, unfair trade, abuse of market powerThe Fair Trade Commission is conducting an extensive investigation into about 40 large firms and its suppliers to root out business malpractices including price collusion and abuse of market power, officials said Monday. The antitrust regulator launched the largest-ever probe into their pricing
Yuhan-Kimberly exports top W230 billion

IndustryJan 24, 2011

Yuhan-Kimberly, Korea’s leading hygiene products manufacturer, said its exports increased 28.7 percent to 237.6 billion won ($211.8 million) last year, thanks to strong sales of its diapers and feminine sanitary pads.Shipments to China, Russia and Turkey accounted for 63 percent, the company said. Products like diapers, sanitary pads and paper towels make up 82 percent.“Such items could succeed in
Citi picks Korea, Taiwan stocks amid inflation

IndustryJan 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
Kia aims to dominate city car market

IndustryJan 24, 2011

No. 2 carmaker releases new Morning with upgraded safety, convenience featuresJEJU ― Kia Motors Corp. launched the latest version of its Morning city car on the local market Monday.The company aims to sell 100,000 units on the domestic market and 120,000 units overseas this year.From next year, the company hopes to raise the overseas figure by 20,000, pushing up the overall sales figure to 240,000
Apollo-led group bidding for Sara Lee

IndustryJan 24, 2011

Sara Lee Corp. received a takeover bid from Apollo Global Management LLC, Bain Capital LLC and TPG Capital that is higher than the food company’s current share price of $18.70, said three people with knowledge of the matter. The offer gets close to the $20 a share that Sara Lee’s board is seeking, said one of the people, who declined to be identified because the process is private. JBS SA, the Bra