South Korea's trade minister, who is running to become the new head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), plans to visit Geneva this week as the international body begins the selection process for its next leader. Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee will head to Switzerland on Monday as the WTO plans to launch the first round of the selection process on Sept. 7, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. During the first round, representatives from 164 member states will provide a ma

Fitch Solutions, the consultancy arm of global credit appraiser Fitch Group, forecast that South Korea will further cut its policy rate by the end of the year, extending economic stimulating efforts amid the prolonged COVID-19 crisis. “We now expect the Bank of Korea to undertake one more 25 basis point rate cut before end-2020 in order to continue providing support to the economy,” the company said in a release. “We have also revised down our forecast for consumer price inf

South Korean shares closed higher Friday on the US Fed Reserve's dovish gesture, but gains were trimmed due to the heightened social distancing level in the greater Seoul area. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 9.35 points, or 0.4 percent, to close at 2,353.8. Trading volume was high at about 1.3 billion shares worth some 15.3 trillion won ($12.9 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 583 to 253. Foreigners sold a net 2

South Korea is mulling another set of extra budget if the level of social distancing goes up a notch, enforcing a lockdown, according to the chief fiscal policymaker. “The rise in the coronavirus cases and implementation of stricter social distancing level would work as key variables in drafting the fourth extra budget,” Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said at a press briefing held Thursday. “If the situation reaches Level 3, then (the lockdown’s

The market price of large-sized apartments in Seoul surpassed the 2 billion won ($1.69 million) mark in August, reflecting the unsubdued housing price rally in popular areas, industry data showed Friday. According to the monthly housing price trend report by KB Kookmin Bank, the average transaction price for large-sized apartments came to 2.03 billion won, exceeding the milestone for the first time since the bank started tallying such data in 2016. The latest figure was up 171.54 million w

Viva Republica, operator of mobile fintech platform Toss, said Friday that it has raised $173 million in new funding from multiple investors to drive its new initiative to open a comprehensive financial service application. Investors participating in the fundraise include Aspex Management, Sequoia Capital China, Kleiner Perkins Digital Growth Fund, Altos Ventures, Goodwater Capital, and Greyhound Capital. Despite the pandemic-sparked market turmoil, the latest funding marks the single larges

SEJONG -- South Korea will review the need to draw up the fourth extra budget if the nation raises social distancing rules to the highest level amid a resurgence of the new coronavirus, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki has said. Hong made the remarks at a meeting with reporters Thursday when he gave a briefing on next year's budget proposal. With daily virus infections surging to triple digits, South Korea raised the virus curbs to Level 2 in the three-tier system earlier this month, banning ind

South Korean shares opened higher Friday, taking a cue from overnight gains on Wall Street, despite concerns over the rising new COVID-19 cases at home. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 13.12 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,357.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Stocks traded bullish, after the index plunged 1.05 percent the previous session due to spreading new COVID-19 cases. Investor sentiment strengthened on an overnight speech by Federal Reserve Chairman

Banks and brokerages that handled fund products by a local asset manager said Thursday they will return the principals on investments made by consumers, in line with the advisory issued by the country's financial regulator. Hana Bank, Woori Bank, Mirae Asset Daewoo Co. and Shinhan Investment Corp. said their boards accepted calls to provide full refunds in regard to the misselling scandal centered on Lime Asset Management Co. The dispute settlement board at the Financial Supervisory Service c

South Korea’s top financial regulator said Thursday its temporary ban on short-selling activities of all listed Korean shares will be extended to March 2021, immediately after the current six-month restriction expires in September. The Financial Services Commission’s decision is meant to keep the stock market volatility at bay as the impact of the coronavirus still persists across the nation. The decision was made as FSC collected written agreements from its commissioners after the

NH Investment & Securities, a brokerage unit of South Korea’s NongHyup Financial Group, decided Thursday to offer up to 70 percent of funds invested in now-frozen Optimus Asset Management’s funds via the firm. Stressing its ethical, not legal, responsibility as the seller of the troubled fund, the company said it would pay 30-70 percent of investment funds to retail and corporate investors in advance. The payment is not a sort of compensation, but is designed to provide financi

Nation grapples with demographic change amid epidemic, economic crisis

South Korean shares ended a four-session winning streak Thursday, as the daily new virus cases in the country spiked to a nearly six-month high. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 24.87 points, or 1.05 percent, to close at 2,344.45. Trading volume was high at about 898 million shares worth some 14.9 trillion won ($12.6 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 725 to 152. Foreigners sold a net 24 billion won, ending a four

KB Financial Group said Thursday that it has received approval from the Financial Services Commission to acquire Prudential Life Insurance of Korea. In April, the Korean financial giant inked a deal with Prudential to buy a 100 percent stake in the insurance company for some 2.3 trillion won ($1.94 billion). It is scheduled to pay for the acquisition by Monday. When the deal closes, the insurance firm will become the financial group’s 13th subsidiary. The takeover of the nation&rsquo

Central bank keeps interest rate at record-low of 0.5%