Prices paid to Australian producers rose less than forecast in the fourth quarter, recording the smallest increase in a year as a stronger currency lowered the cost of imports. The producer prices index advanced 0.1 percent in the October-December period from the prior quarter, when it gained 1.3 percent, the Bureau of Statistics said in Sydney Monday. The median estimate of 19 economists surveyed

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

 South Korea's central bank said Monday that the local economy is likely to surpass its long-term growth trend this year, raising speculation that the bank may upgrade its growth outlook.   The Bank of Korea (BOK) earlier forecast Asia's fourth-largest economy to grow 4.5 percent this year while the government is seeking to target a 5 percent expansion.   "The economic expansion will likely hover

 South Korea's anti-trust watchdog is investigating dozens of local companies for their possible involvement in business malpractice that could result in unusual price hikes in the market, government officials said Monday.   The investigation comes on the heels of a separate probe launched by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on Jan. 10 into price rigging and other inflation-causing activities in th

South Korean banks saw their loan default rates fall to the lowest level in 12 months in December following their enhanced efforts to clear soured loans ahead of year-end book closings, the financial regulator said Monday.   Loans overdue by one day or more reached 0.91 percent, or 9 trillion won ($8 billion), of the total lending held by 18 local banks as of the end of December, sharply down from

Samsung Heavy Industries announced Sunday that it has developed a high-tech anti-pirate system providing enhanced security for ships sailing through danger zones.The system includes remotely controlled water cannons, night vision and an advanced radar system.The shipbuilder said the system will be fitted as standard equipment in all ships built at its yard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province.The n

Kia Motors Corp. saw its global market share come to 2.9 percent, the highest ever for the company, in 2010, industry data showed Sunday.According to the carmaker, it sold about 2.09 million units ― about 485,000 units domestically and 1.605 million units overseas ― in 2010. Comparing the figure to the world market volume of 71.35 million units calculated by J.D. Power and Associates, Kia’s global

The Bank of Korea is focusing on the coming revised outlook of the International Monetary Fund for the 2011 global economy as the U.S. economy is showing positive signs of recovery.An issue is whether the IMF will revise its forecast on Korea’s GDP growth upward for this year, from its projection of 4.5 percent in October. The figure was identical to the outlook issued by the BOK.While BOK Governo

TOKYO (DPA) ― Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to launch eight models of electric cars and plug-in hybrids by the financial year that ends in March 2016, the Japanese carmaker said Thursday.The strategy includes the introduction of hybrid vehicles in the 2013-14 financial year, said Mitsubishi, which produces an electric hatchback but has yet to introduce hybrid models.It plans to also expand its lin