Nearly half of foreign asset managers operating in South Korea reported a loss in the first half of fiscal 2012, mostly due to the volatile market, industry data showed Friday.According to the data by the Korea Financial Investment Association and the Financial Supervisory Service, 11 out of 23 foreign asset managers, or 47 percent, are estimated to have suffered a shortfall in the April-September period. Foreign asset managers posted a combined net profit of 19.2 billion won ($17.6 million) in

Commercial banks slashed their spending on social contribution activities again this year.The combined spending on social contributions of the four major banks ― Woori, KB Kookmin, Hana and Korea Exchange ― for this year is projected to stay at 231.7 billion won ($210.6 million), compared with 555.4 billion won three years ago.KB Kookmin has posted a gradual decline in the figure: 131.7 billion won in 2009, 62.8 billion won in 2010, 85.8 billion won in 2011 and 85 billion won in 2012.Woori repor

South Korean stocks dropped 1.23 percent Thursday as investor sentiment was muted by widespread uncertainties over the stalled U.S. budget deal and European fiscal woes, analysts said. The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 23.32 points to close at 1,870.72. Trading volume was moderate at 446.2 million shares worth 4.14 trillion won ($3.8 billion) with decliners far outnumbering gainers 608 to 230.“Investors are worried about u

Household loans extended by South Korean financial firms grew at the lowest pace ever in August as the property market remained in the doldrums amid the economic slowdown, data showed Thursday.Household lending extended by local banks and non-bank institutions totaled 649.8 trillion won ($597.2 billion) as of the end of August, up 4.1 percent from the previous year, according to the Bank of Korea.The August growth rate marked the slowest gain since October 2003 when the central bank began to com

South Korea should make efforts to enhance its financial stability by tackling volatile cross-border capital flows in a bid to beef up its economic fundamentals, the country's top central banker said Wednesday.Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Kim Choong-soo said at a forum in Seoul that Korea should continue its efforts to dispel potential risks lurking in the financial system and draw up measures to smooth out cross-border capital movements.Since 2010, Korea has taken a set of macro-prudential steps as

South Korean stocks closed 0.59 percent lower Tuesday as growing uncertainties about the looming U.S. fiscal cliff and the persistent eurozone debt woes weighed heavily on the local market, analysts said. The local currency declined against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 11.17 points to close at 1,889.7. Trading volume was moderate at 486.9 million shares worth 3.86 trillion won ($3.64 billion) with decliners outnumbering advancers 609 to 214.“What investors

Global investment banks (IBs) have forecast South Korea's central bank will likely keep its key policy rate steady through the first six months of next year as the economy regains steam at a gradual pace in the second half, a report showed Tuesday. Major IBs including Goldman Sachs expect the Bank of Korea (BOK) to freeze its key rate at 2.75 percent till the first half of 2013, citing their overall outlook that protracted global jitters are less likely to further aggravate, according to the rep

South Korea’s financial watchdog is seeking ways to have banks compensate voice phishing victims. The Financial Supervisory Service said on Monday that it is reviewing related laws to reduce exemption grounds made for banks in terms of making compensation. Over 12,800 voice phishing cases were reported between January 2011 and September 2012, for damages worth over 151.6 billion won ($139.4 million). Banks, however, do not have to provide compensation as the current law simply blames the victim’

South Korea's top central banker said Monday that the country may strengthen measures to smooth out cross-border capital movements if needed, but potential steps would not take on features of capital control.South Korea has undergone excessive capital outflows whenever a financial crisis has cropped up. Since 2010, Korea has implemented a set of the so-called macro-prudential measures to ease volatile cross-border capital flows including bank levies and tighter regulations on banks' FX derivativ

The South Korean stock market is likely to remain downbeat this week as uncertainties over the U.S. “fiscal cliff” continue to dent investor sentiment, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index finished at 1,904.41 last week, down 0.74 percent from the previous week, as steep losses in key automakers weighed on the main index.The KOSPI plunged to the low 1,900-level as shares of Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors tumbled following their fuel efficiency scandal in the United States.

Financial companies in South Korea will likely cut their workforces by up to 3,400 this year, industry data showed Sunday, pointing to harsh times that they are experiencing in the face of the prolonged economic slump.Korean banks and foreign banks operating in the country will cut a combined 1,800 workers by the end of this year, while insurers will reduce their workforce by 600. Card and capital companies will also eliminate about 1,000 workers, according to the data.The number of jobs to be e

The country’s central bank left the key rate untouched on Friday, reflecting a hopeful outlook on the nation’s economy based on the brisk export growth in October. As widely expected, the Bank of Korea’s Monetary Policy Committee announced that it would keep the rate frozen at 2.75 percent for November to keep tabs on the impact of the quarter-point rate cut in the previous month. The economic downturn slowed in Korea as exports, consumption and investment improved, said BOK Governor Kim Choong-

South Korean stocks fell 1.19 percent Thursday as investors opted to lock in part of recent gains following the outcome of the U.S. presidential poll, analysts said.The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar. The Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 23.14 points to finish at 1,914.41. Trading volume was heavy at 6.53 million shares worth 5.31 trillion won ($4.87 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 532 to 268. “The ‘Romney shares’ such as energy and oil issues tumbled in