SEJONG -- South Korea's industrial output, consumption and facility investment increased in September, in a sign that the nation's economy may be on a track toward a mild recovery from the coronavirus pandemic-caused slump, data showed Friday. The nation's overall industrial production gained 2.3 percent on-month in September, following a 0.8 percent on-month decline in August, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea. Compared with a year earlier, overall industrial production jumped 3

MARKETING AWARDS / GOLD PRIZE SHINHAN CARD By Yoon Seung-won General manager of planning team I would like to extend my gratitude to customers for giving steadfast love to Shinhan Card. I am also honored that Shinhan Card’s Shinhan Pay Fan “Sobi Mama” winning the Gold Prize at the Korea Herald Marketing Awards. As we are on verge of entering the “new normal” era, we are witnessing quick changes in our lives in regard to the digitalization of industries. Customer

SEJONG -- South Korea plans to sell 12.4 trillion won ($10.9 billion) in state bonds next month, the finance ministry said Thursday. The ministry will issue 2.9 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of three years and another 2.4 trillion won in five-year bonds in November, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It also intends to sell 3 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of 10 years and 1 trillion won in 20-year Treasurys, while floating 3.1 trillion won in bonds with a maturity

SK Biopharmaceuticals and SK Global Chemical are likely to be included on the MSCI Korea Index next month, market watchers said Thursday. But Big Hit, the local entertainment agency behind K-pop sensation BTS, is seen as unlikely to make the cut. The Geneva-based MSCI is set to announce the results of its semiannual index review Nov. 11. Other South Korean companies, including Hanmi Science, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction and Genexine, could also join the index, while Posco Interna

South Korean subsidiaries of foreign banking groups, online giants and daily necessities makers made the annual list for the 10 best companies working toward gender equality among the country’s 500 largest firms, data showed Thursday.  This year’s awarded firms comprised foreign-based lenders Citibank Korea and Standard Chartered Bank Korea, leading local internet firms Naver and Kakao, cosmetics giant Amorepacific, outdoor clothing manufacturer Yongone Corp., LG Group a

South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday on foreign and institutional selling as new coronavirus outbreaks in major global economies continued to surge at an alarming rate. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 18.59 points, or 0.79 percent, to close at 2,326.67. Trading volume was moderate at about 488 million shares worth some 10.1 trillion won ($8.9 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 641 to 221. The KOSPI started ou

Brokerages, not banking units, see greatest gains over stock market rally

South Korean smaller firms' business outlook rose for the second consecutive month for November on loosened coronavirus curbs and a recovery in exports, a poll showed Thursday. The survey of 3,150 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) showed that the small business health index (SBHI) stood at 74 for the coming month, up 2.8 points from October. It marked the second consecutive month of increase. The index gained to 71.2 for October from 67.9 in September. Yet the November tally was still below

SEJONG -- Debt held by the self-employed grew 4.7 percent in 2018, as their income fell amid the economic slowdown, raising concerns about their capacity to service debt, data showed Thursday. Average bank loans extended to a self-employed person amounted to 164 million won ($144,000) as of end-2018, compared with 156 million won a year ago, according to the data released by Statistics Korea. Banks have increased loans to the self-employed as the financial regulator is seeking to curb the gr

The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Thursday it will again extend a special loan scheme for financial institutions by three months to help them stem a possible funding squeeze amid the coronavirus pandemic. The central bank said its decision-making monetary policy board decided to extend the special loan facility, originally set to expire on Nov. 3, until Feb. 3. It marks the second extension since the program's inception in May. In August, the BOK extended the special loan program by three months.

South Korean shares opened sharply lower Thursday on an overnight Wall Street plunge, as the new coronavirus outbreaks in the major global economies continued to surge at an alarming rate. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 25.96 points, or 1.11 percent, to 2,319.3 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Investor sentiment grew risk-averse, as a resurgence in virus cases in the United States and Europe raised concerns that the worsening pandemic may deliver heavy damage

The monthslong coronavirus pandemic has affected much of South Korean society, and the sports sector is one of many that has felt the brunt of the crisis. Athletes in nearly all sports play in empty stadiums, while others have had their seasons canceled.  Aiming to reignite fans’ passion for volleyball amid the pandemic, the Hyundai Capital Skywalkers, owned by auto financing firm Hyundai Capital, recently organized an online event to show fans around the team’s locker room a

Responding to continuing public complaints that the latest and forthcoming real estate policies impose excessive burdens upon nonspeculative end users, the South Korean government is set to lowering the tax rate for budget residences, the nation’s fiscal chief said Wednesday. He also rolled out a “phased” housing system that would allow prospective homebuyers with limited credit to eventually own a residential home by accumulating stake in the given property throughout the

South Korean shares ended their two-day losing streak Wednesday, helped by a tech rally, amid intensifying woes over the pandemic. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 14.42 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 2,345.26. Trading volume was moderate at about 695 million shares worth some 8.8 trillion won ($7.8 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 615 to 237. Foreigners bought a net 15 billion won, with retail investors pu

Woori Bank said Wednesday it has launched a Korea desk at its branch in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to help South Korean companies extend their business into the South Asian country. Through the service desk, the lender will provide useful market information, including local financial regulations, along with special offers like hotel reservations and airport pickup for customers on business trips to Bangladesh. Also, the officials will conduct financial counseling programs targeting those who are plan