[THE INVESTOR] South Korean bond market experts expect the Bank of Korea to keep the benchmark rate unchanged this month, a survey showed on July 12. A survey conducted by the Korea Financial Investment Association showed that 91.2 percent of bond market specialists expect the 1.25 percent rate to be unchanged at the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting.The committee is set to convene on July 14. BOK governor Lee Ju-yeolThe association said that the central bank is likely to keep the rate

[THE INVESTOR] Shinhan Investment on July 12 said it expects LG Life Sciences to post a 99.4 percent increase on-year in its second-quarter operating profit to reach 6.9 billion won (US$ 5.99 million).The projections are higher than the market consensus of 5.9 billion won.Shinhan said robust sales of both existing and new products will be the driving factors. Quarterly sales are consequently expected to rise 15.4 percent to reach 119.6 billion won in line with analysts’ forecasts. By Kim Ji-hyun

[THE INVESTOR] Yuanta Securities forecast that industrial materials maker Kolon Industries’ earnings would double this year on eased legal woes. The brokerage said this year’s operating profit would reach 336 billion won (US$ 291.81 million), up from the 168.8 billion posted in 2014. “Kolon Industries had seen its corporate value deteriorate from 2012 to 2015 due to a lengthy legal battle with US-based Dupon, but the situation is now over,” the report said. Kolon settled the case in May 2015. Ko

[THE INVESTOR] HI Investment & Securities forecast on July 12 that Hyundai Glovis will post a 17.1 percent on-year increase in its second-quarter operating profit to reach 185.8 billion won (US$ 161.36 million). “Most divisions, with the exception of the pure car carrier business, are expected to achieve external growth, especially on the back of stabilizing raw material prices,” the brokerage said in a report. It added that Hyundai Glovis shares are undervalued considering its 10.3 price-earnin

[THE INVESTOR] Shinhan Investment on July 12 slashed its target price on Hotel Shilla shares to 85,000 won (US$73.80) from 90,000 won on its declining operating profit.Hotel Shilla’s second quarter operating profit is expected to fall 8.9 percent on-year to 26.80 billion won, the brokerage said. Shinhan’s projections are below the current market consensus of 3.32 billion won. “The company’s downtown duty-free shop is expected to post a 25.5 percent increase in sales, but its airport outlet is se

[THE INVESTOR] As investors went into risk-aversion mode, software firms are increasingly becoming their safe havens due to low price volatility and analysts’ optimistic forecasts on their earnings. According to market analysis provider FnGuide, foreign investors scooped up 600.5 billion won (US$521 million) worth of local software shares since May this year. Leading the pack was Naver, South Korea’s No.1 Internet portal, with 425.3 billion won, followed by Com2uS at 112.5 billion won, Samsung S