[THE INVESTOR] Kiwoom Securities forecast Lotte Shopping will post underperforming second-quarter operating profit due to sluggish retail sector performance.Operating profit was expected to fall 9.1 percent to 184.8 billion won (US$161.68 million), while sales will rise 3.3 percent to 7.64 trillion won. The latest investigations into Lotte Homeshopping and closing of the duty-free shop in Lotte World Tower were cited as some of the factors weighing on the firm, in addition to the scandal over to

[THE INVESTOR] Dongbu Securities on July 22 said it expects LG Chem ’s third quarter operating profit to fall from the second quarter to 517.6 billion won (US$455.84 million). Seasonal factors were cited as the biggest reason, but the brokerage also said the chemicals maker would maintain its growth momentum.In the second quarter of the year, LG Chem posted 615.8 billion won of operating profit, up 9.3 percent on-year. The figure was also higher than the market consensus of 574.3 billion won.By

[THE INVESTOR] Mirae Asset Securities on July 22 forecast that KB Financial will post a net profit of 517.8 billion won (US$453.02 million) in the third quarter to continue on a path of positive earnings.It cited improving interest rate profit margins and narrowing deficit in non-interest rate profit as reasons behind the quarterly gains. In the second quarter, KB Financial posted 580.4 billion won of net profit. The figure reflects a 70.9 percent increase on-year, and is also 30 percent higher