NHN Corp., South Korea’s top Internet portal operator, said Thursday its fourth-quarter earnings jumped49.1 percent from a year earlier, buoyed by increased profit from search advertising and new services such as the mobile messenger LINE.Net profit reached 169 billion won ($155 million) in the October-December period, compared with a profit of 113.3 billion won the previous year, NHN said in a regulatory filing.Revenue rose 13.8 percent on-year to 652 billion won last year, and operating profit

South Korean stocks closed 0.23 percent lower on Thursday as the prolonged currency volatility continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged down 4.42 points to 1,931.77. Trading volume was moderate at 407.2 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.22 billion) with losers outpacing gainers 410 to 383."Due to the prolonged appreciation of the local currency against the Japanese ye

South Korean stocks traded almost flat late Thursday morning as the currency's volatility continued to weigh down on investor sentiment, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 0.06 percent, or 1.2 points, to 1,937.39 as of 11:20 a.m.Blue-chip exporters edged up, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics increasing 0.14 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix adding 1.43 percent. No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor moved up 0.25 percent.Retailers lost ground, with Lo

South Korean stocks began higher Thursday on the back of gains in blue chip exporters, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.26 percent, or 5.07 points, to 1941.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Blue chip exporters led the overall gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronicsclimbing 0.28 percent and No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor adding 0.75 percent. Top chipmaker SK hynix also advanced 1.02 percent.Logistics shares also gathered ground, with Hyundai Gl

Commercial banks’ profitability and earnings fell to their lowest since the 2009 global financial crisis due mainly to low interest rates.According to the Financial Supervisory Service, Korean banks saw their three major indices for profitability mark a three-year low in 2012.“The banking industry reported a worse performance in three indices ― return on assets (0.49 percent), return on equity (6.41 percent) and net interest margin (2.1 percent),” the FSS said in a statement.The weak profitabili

South Korean stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday as the prolonged currency volatility and North Korea’s threat of a nuclear test continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 0.1 percent, or 1.99 points, to 1,936.19. Trading volume was moderate at 342.9 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won ($3.3 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 461 to 338.“Despite the gains on Wall Street overnight,

South Korean stocks ended almost flat on Wednesday as the prolonged currency volatility and North Korea's threat for a nuclear test continued to weigh down the market, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 0.1 percent, or 1.99 points, to 1,936.19. Trading volume was moderate at 342.9 million shares worth 3.5 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 461 to 338."Despite the gains on Wall Street

South Korean stocks traded 0.1 percent higher late Wednesday morning, buoyed by gains in mobile carriers and technology firms, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 1.94 points to 1,940.12 as of 11:20 a.m.Mobile carriers led the market gain, with leading SK Telecom increasing 3.44 percent and No. 2 player KT moving up 2.11 percent.No. 3 player LG Uplus climbed 2.87 percent.Tech blue chips also continued to trade higher, with market behemoth Samsung Elect

South Korean stocks began higher Wednesday as investor sentiment got a boost from overnight gains on Wall Street, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.22 percent, or 4.28 points, to 1942.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Tech blue chips drove up the shares, with top chipmaker SK hynix increasing 0.84 percent and handset maker LG Electronics climbing 0.58 percent. Flat panel giant LG Display moved up 1.63 percent.Construction firms also traded higher, w

The nation’s financial regulator has bolstered its monitoring on conglomerates’ transactions with subcontractors amid the Korean won’s strong position against the Japanese yen.The policy of the Financial Supervisory Service reflects worries over the possibility that big firms could hand over their losses from declining exports amid weaker price competitiveness to subcontractors.In the past, conglomerates changed their settlement currency from the won to the dollar in paying for subcontractors’ p

South Korean stocks ended 0.77 percent lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concern over North Korea’s nuclear test, analysts said Tuesday. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 15.03 points to 1,938.18. Trading volume was moderate at 361.3 million shares worth 3.7 trillion won ($3.4 billion), with decliners far outpacing gainers 602 to 215. )“Rising geopolitical risks stemming from North Korea’s pledge to carr

South Korean stocks ended 0.77 percent lower on Tuesday as investor sentiment was dented by rising concern over North Korea's nuclear test, analysts said Tuesday. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.03 points to 1,938.18. Trading volume was moderate at 361.3 million shares worth 3.7 trillion won (US$3.4 billion), with decliners far outpacing gainers 602 to 215."Rising geopolitical risks stemming from North Korea's pledge

South Korean stocks traded 0.81 percent lower late Tuesday morning amid heightened political tension with North Korea, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.73 points to 1,937.48 as of 11:20 a.m.Tech blue chips led the decline, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics falling 0.63 percent, and top chipmaker SK hynix losing 2.67 percent.Brokerage houses were also trading in negative territory, with Samsung Securities decreasing 2.66 percent and KDB Daewoo S