South Korean stocks shed 0.41 percent on Friday ahead of the release of a U.S. jobs report that could give hints to the Federal Reserve's rate decision, although some bio shares helped erase some of the earlier losses, analysts said.The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 8.34 points to 2,041.07. Trading volume was light at 436.7 million shares worth 4.34 trillion won ($3.8 billion), with losers far surpassing winners 552 to 260.  An

South Korean stocks traded 0.12 percent lower late Friday morning as investors switched to selling mode ahead of the release of U.S. jobs data, while a bio rally offset part of the loss.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 2.55 points to 2,045.97 as of 11:20 a.m.  Most blue chip shares were in negative terrain.   Market bellwether Samsung Electronics declined 0.67 percent, and leading automaker Hyundai Motor slipped 0.6 percent.   Bio and health care shares traded bullish

South Korean stocks started higher Friday as investors piled up bio shares after Hanmi Pharmaceutical announced a mega license agreement with a French drugmaker.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 2.45 points, or 0.12 percent, to 2,051.86 in the first 15 minutes of trading.  Bio shares got off to a strong start after Hanmi Pharmaceutical on Thursday said it reached a license agreement with Sanofi to develop a portfolio of experimental, long-acting diabetes treatments, worth u

The third hearing of a multi-billion-dollar case the U.S. private equity firm Lone Star filed against South Korea over its asset sell-offs will be held in The Hague in January, the Justice Ministry here said Thursday.Lone Star and the South Korean government will counter each other at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in the Netherlands from Jan. 5-8 over the equity fund's 2003 purchase of a controlling stake in Korea Exchange (KEB) and its sell-off, the mini

South Korean stocks shed 0.16 percent Thursday as the U.S. Federal Reserve hinted at a potential rate hike within the year, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index decreased 3.36 points to 2,049.41. Trading volume was moderate at 336.8 million shares worth 3.92 trillion won ($3.44 billion), with winners outpacing losers 404 to 390.  Fed Chair Janet Yellen said Wednesday (U.S. time) the central bank has not yet decided wheth

The chief of South Korea's central bank will attend a meeting of central bank heads from around the world in Switzerland this week to exchange views on global economic and financial market conditions, the Bank of Korea said Thursday.  BOK Gov. Lee Ju-yeol will depart for Basel, Switzerland on Friday for the two-day Bimonthly Meeting of the Bank for International Settlements that will be held from Sunday, according to the bank.  "During the two-day meeting, Gov. Lee and central bank governors of

South Korea's customs agency said Thursday that it plans to announce the winners of duty-free operating licenses next weekend in a bid to prevent people from taking advantage of tip-offs as the stock market will be closed.  Four companies -- Shinsegae, Doosan Group, SK Group and Lotte Group -- have submitted bids for the operational licenses of three duty-free stores in downtown Seoul, which are set to expire later this year. Shinsegae and Fashion Group Hyungji are competing for a license for a

South Korea plans to issue yuan-denominated foreign exchange stabilization bonds in China to better meet rising demand for the Chinese currency and help local firms do business in the world's No. 2 market, a government source said Thursday.  According to the source in the finance ministry, the government submitted a request to Chinese regulators asking permission to issue the bonds.  "The matter is being reviewed and once permission is given the size of timing for the bond issuance will be decid

South Korea's industry minister pledged Thursday to remove administrative red tape that is holding up foreign investment.  In a meeting with members of the American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul, Yoon Sang-jick said he will work closely with other government ministries to find reasonable ways to deal with regulatory obstacles that are hindering inflows of investments.  "Efforts will be made to work closely with foreign companies operating in South Korea to find ways to make the local

South Korean stocks started lower Thursday due to a sharp decline in carmakers and shipbuilders.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 6.87 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,045.90 in the first 15 minutes of trading.  Carmakers traded bearish, with Hyundai Motor falling 0.6 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors remaining unchanged. Top auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis shed 0.4 percent.  Shipbuilders were also among losers, with Hyundai Heavy Industries decreasing 1.58 percent an

South Korean stocks traded 0.51 percent higher late Tuesday morning as investors snapped up local shares in line with a global stock rally, with auto shares leading the gains.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 10.29 points to 2,045.53 as of 11:20 a.m.  Auto shares traded bullish after data showed Monday that Korean carmakers' sales expanded 8.7 percent in October from a year earlier on robust demand at home and abroad.  Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 2.94 percent, and its

The chance of a hard landing for China's economy is low but its slowdown will inevitably have a negative impact on South Korea's exports down the road, Seoul's central bank said Tuesday.  In a biannual report submitted to the National Assembly, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said volatilities in the global financial market will continue to increase for some time due to uncertainties related to China.  "This is because a slowdown in China's economy will lead to greater concerns over a global economic sl

South Korea's consumer prices grew less than 1 percent for the 11th month in a row in October, a government report showed Tuesday, as Asia's fourth-largest economy tries to shake off deflation concerns.  The country's consumer price index gained 0.9 percent last month from a year earlier, the report by Statistics Korea showed. The latest number marks a gain from 0.6 percent on-year growth reported for September and the sharpest increase since the 1 percent growth tallied for November 2014.  "Wea

South Korean stocks started higher Tuesday as auto shares rallied following strong October sales data, pushing up the broader market.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 12.12 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,047.36 in the first 15 minutes of trading.          Auto shares traded bullish after data showed Monday that Korean carmakers' sales expanded 8.7 percent in October from a year earlier on robust demand at home and abroad.  Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 3.15 percent, and it