South Korean stocks ended almost unchanged Monday as investors remained cautious after Chinese data showed the world's second-largest economy slowing further but not heading toward a hard landing. The South Korean won firmed against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index ticked up 0.01 point to 2,030.27. Trading volume was heavy at 707.69 million shares worth 4.11 trillion won ($3.66 billion), with decliners beating gainers 453 to 350.China said Monday its economy grew 6

Lee Kun-hee, the bedridden chairman of South Korea's largest conglomerate Samsung Group, maintained his status as the No. 1 stock-rich person in South Korea, industry data showed Monday.Lee had 11.48 trillion won ($10.13 billion) worth of stock assets as of Friday, according to the data from market researcher Chaebul.com.The amount marked a 13.6 percent spike from a year earlier.The 73-year-old business tycoon has been immobile and hospitalized since he suffered a heart attack in May 2014.Lee wa

Loan guarantees among affiliates of South Korea's major conglomerates surged about 2.8-fold in 2015 from the previous year, the country's corporate watchdog said Sunday.According to the Fair Trade Commission, loan guarantees made among the affiliates of the nation's 61 conglomerates came to a little over 2.04 trillion won ($1.8 billion) as of April 1, compared with just 738.8 billion won tallied a year earlier.The jump is attributed to the addition of one business group to the government's watch

South Korean stocks are expected to move in a tight range next week ahead of key events, including a release of Chinese economic data, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 10.73 points this week to close at 1,930.26 on Friday.Throughout the week, the index swerved in and out of positive territory on rising concerns about a Chinese economic slowdown ahead of the corporate earnings season.This week, KOSPI started bullish on news that a Fed official hinted at

Following is a translation of the full text of the Bank of Korea's statement on its monetary policy decision for October. The central bank's monetary policy committee voted Thursday to freeze the base rate at 1.5 percent.   ---------------------  The Monetary Policy Board of the Bank of Korea decided today to leave the Base Rate unchanged at 1.50% for the intermeeting period.  Based on currently available information the Board considers that the trend of economic recovery in the US has been sust

South Korea's central bank on Thursday held its key interest rate steady for a fourth month amid growing uncertainties from the world's two largest economies and budding signs of a recovery in domestic demand.  In a widely expected move, the monetary policy committee of the Bank of Korea (BOK) froze its base rate at a record low of 1.50 percent for October.  The committee said the local economy was showing signs of improvement, but that global uncertainties surrounding the economy may worsen dow

The privatization of state-controlled Woori Bank originally scheduled for this year appears to have hit more roadblocks after four failed attempts since 2010.The government ― which bailed out the bank in the aftermath of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis ― had planned to sell its dominant stake in the bank this year, but it may be further delayed, according to industry sources.Further, the Public Fund Oversight Committee in charge of the Woori sale has also hinted at a delay in the auction proc

South Korea's central bank is widely expected to stand pat on its key interest rate for another month as it continues to gauge the impact of external developments on the country's economy, a poll showed Monday.  In a poll conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, 12 out of 15 economists surveyed projected the Bank of Korea will keep its policy rate unchanged at a record low of 1.5 percent for October at its monthly rate-setting meeting Thursday.  In efforts to bo

The outstanding amount of South Korea's state bonds is expected to exceed the 600 trillion-won ($517 billion) mark for the first time in 2016, a government report showed Sunday.According to the report by the finance ministry, the amount of government debt outstanding is projected to reach 606.4 trillion won next year, up 50.2 trillion won from this year's estimate.The outstanding value of government debt is likely to rise to 655.9 trillion won in 2017 and 697.4 trillion won in 2018 before breaki

South Korea's stock market operator said Thursday it has opened a temporary office in Singapore as part of its efforts to attract foreign investors.The Korea Exchange said its ad hoc office held an opening ceremony in the Southeast Asian country, with KRX Chairman Choi Kyung-soo and Asian financial officials attending, including Bill Herder, president of FIA Asia, a regional organization of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association."We expect the Singapore office to play a leading role

The number of foreign companies operating in South Korea continued to grow in 2014 as the country steadily attracted more businesses from abroad, government data showed Thursday.According to the data by the National Tax Service, the number of foreign invested firms reached 8,095 in 2014, up 0.5 percent from 8,056 the year before. The number of foreign firms with local branches or affiliates reached 1,770 last year, up 2.8 percent from 1,722 in 2013. Liaison offices of foreign firms which can lea