Out of some 700 trillion won ($622 billion) worth of stocks and bonds held by foreign investors, nearly 20 percent originates from regions deemed as tax havens, raising concerns over the heightening volatility of the local financial market.According to data released by Rep. Park Kwang-on of the Democratic Party of Korea, registered foreign investors reached 40,141 from 127 countries as of the end of August. Most investors came from the US, followed by Japan, Cayman Islands, Canada, the UK and Lu

South Korean stocks ended down Thursday as investors sold stocks on profit-taking. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 11.87 points, or 0.48 percent, to close at 2,480.63. The drop came after the main index rose 0.8 percent over the past four sessions. Trade volume was moderate at 638.07 million shares worth 7.05 trillion won ($6.3 billion), with decliners outnumbering advancers 454 to 358.Foreigners and individuals sold a combined 61.7

South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday as foreigners turned net sellers on profit taking ahead of major companies' earnings releases this week.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 2.25 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,490.25 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Foreign and retail investors sold a combined 13.4 billion won ($12 million) worth of stocks, offsetting 15 billion won bought by institutions. On Wednesday, foreigners bought 111.9 billion won worth of stocks, helping

The latest set of measures to strengthen South Korean mortgage borrowers’ debt repayment obligations was within market expectation and has defused uncertainties on the stock market, analysts said Wednesday. The toughened mortgage rules, unveiled Tuesday to curb snowballing national household debt, would help local banks and builders on the stock market benefit from abated uncertainties, the stock analysts said. “The Tuesday measure indicated the government’s moves have been and

South Korean stocks finished at a fresh all-time high Wednesday, as investors scooped up market heavyweights, such as banking stocks, market analysts said. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.01 points, or 0.08 percent, to close at 2,492.50.Trade volume was moderate at 592 million shares worth 5.03 trillion won ($4.46 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 422 to 367.The local stock market opened higher on overnight gains in Wall S

South Korean stocks turned lower Wednesday morning as institutions offloaded stocks on profit taking ahead of major companies' earnings releases from this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.92 points, or 0.04 percent, to 2,489.57 as of 11:15 a.m. Institutions extended their net selling to 115 billion won ($102 million), offsetting 117 billion won stocks purchased by foreigners and individuals. Large-cap stocks were mixed across the board, with market bellwether Samsung

South Korea's secondary stock market has continued to lose steam, while the main stock market has rallied due to big gains by heavyweight technology stocks, according to the nation's bourse operator Wednesday.For years, the junior KOSDAQ market has been struggling with a string of accounting scandals and the defection of large-cap stocks to the benchmark KOSPI stock market.According to the Korea Exchange, the KOSDAQ index has risen 8.83 percent so far this year, compared with a 22.9 percent jump

South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday as investors expect strong earnings from major companies.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 1.70 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,492.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Foreigners and retail investors bought a combined 55 billion won ($49 million) worth of stocks, offsetting 53 billion won sold by institutions. Companies such as Samsung Electronics Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. are scheduled to release their third-quarter earnings resu

The preferred bidder for cash-strapped Dongbu Daewoo Electronics is set to be selected in the near future, industry sources said Wednesday, with candidates including both local and overseas firms.According to the sources, NH Investment & Securities Co., which oversees the deal, is currently conducting due diligence with candidates. After the procedure, the firm's financial investors will pick the preferred bidder based on candidates' financial and business capabilities.Sources said the candi

Corporate owner families have put up some 12.6 trillion won ($11.15 billion) worth of stocks as loan collateral, an analysis showed Wednesday, a practice that increased faster among their children's generation, who likely used the money to pay inheritance-related taxes.CEO Score, which tracks management details of major conglomerates, analyzed loans and collateral of 704 family members of the top 100 business groups and their affiliates. According to the data, 164 of them from 47 groups had prov

South Korean stocks finished at a fresh record high Tuesday as institutions and individuals scooped up market heavyweights on earnings expectations, analysts said. The won rose against the dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged up 0.44 point, or 0.02 percent, to close at 2,490.49. The gain was bolstered by robust third-quarter earnings expectations, with a slew of major firms set to release their business performances this week for the July-September period.Trade volume was

Jung Ji-won, chief executive officer of Korea Securities Finance Corp., was named Tuesday as the single candidate for the new chairman of the Korea Exchange, the operator of the Kospi and Kosdaq.  The Busan-based KRX announced Jung had become the sole candidate after interviewing Jung and his contender Choi Bang-gil, former chief executive at Shinhan BNP Paribas Asset Management.The announcement came about two months after former Chairman Jeong Chan-woo offered to step down from the post on

The US dollar-Korean won exchange rates were the least volatile in three years during the third-quarter of this year, despite rising tension surrounding North Korea, the central bank said Tuesday. The average gap between the daily high and low of the dollar-won exchange rates came to 4.8 won in the third quarter, down from a 5.8 won fluctuation a quarter earlier, according to the Bank of Korea.  It is the smallest average daily fluctuation since the third-quarter of 2014, according to the B

South Korean stocks pared back earlier gains Tuesday morning to trade slightly lower as institutions and foreigners offloaded stocks on profit taking. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 1.86 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,491.91 as of 11:15 a.m.Institutions and foreigners sold a combined 57 billion won ($50 million) worth of stocks, exceeding the 52 billion won stocks purchased by individuals.  Tech stocks led the losses, with market bellwether Samsung Electronics falling 0

Twenty-four companies have newly joined the ranks of those with 10 trillion-won ($8.84 billion) market capitalization compared with 10 years ago, raising the number of such firms to a record high of 35, according to the Korea Exchange on Tuesday.Of the group, 34 were on the main bourse, including Samsung Electronics with a market cap of 352.32 trillion won as of Monday. SK hynix had 61.66 trillion won, and Kakao had 10.24 trillion won. Celltrion, with 21.86 trillion won, was the only firm on the