Foreign stakeholders may expand their intervention in management decisions at Samsung Electronics Co. after a Seoul court found its vice chairman de facto leader guilty of bribery, market watchers warned Sunday.Foreign investors who collectively hold more than 50 percent stake in the world's largest smartphone manufacturer may demand the company's board of directors be replaced as Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Friday was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery, embezzlement and other charg

This is the 40th in a series of articles analyzing major companies traded on the tech-heavy Kosdaq market. -- EdAmotech’s unhindered rally over the past two weeks seemed to mark a successful consequence of the partmaker’s decadelong efforts to expand into the electric car part business. The company’s stocks listed on the second-tier Kosdaq market closed at 33,750 won ($29.96) on Friday, up 26.9 percent from two weeks prior and up 53.8 percent from the end of last year. The Frid

South Korean shares may fall to around the 2,360 level next week as the customs office is widely expected to release weakening export data, with all eyes on the outcome of the Jackson Hole meeting, market watchers said Saturday.On Friday, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index edged up 2.67 points, or 0.11 percent, at 2,378.51. It was up 0.9 percent from a week earlier.This week, the KOSPI index traded in a tight range as investors remained cautious awaiting cues from the US Federal Res

With Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong sentenced to five years behind bars Friday for bribery, embezzlement and flight of capital, Samsung Electronics shares dropped over 1 percent.Samsung Electronics closed at 2,351,000 won ($2,080), down 1.05 percent compared to Thursday’s close. Samsung C&T, the de facto holding company of the group and one of the focal points of the corruption scandal, shed 1.48 percent.Meanwhile, other listed Samsung affiliates saw gains. Samsung Engi

The finance ministry said Friday that it will put policy priority on restructuring state coffers and strengthening innovative momentum to pull off 3 percent economic growth going forward.Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon held a policy briefing before President Moon Jae-in in Sejong, an administrative city some 130 kilometers south of Seoul, along with heads of the Fair Trade Commission and the Financial Services Commission."The ministry will expand the South Korean economy's capacity to grow 3

The amount of crowdfunding in South Korea shot up nearly 29 percent this year, data showed Friday, showing the platform growing as an effective financing option for startups.According to the data by the Korea Securities Depository, 106 companies raised a combined 14.2 billion won ($12.6 million) from 5,826 investors between February and August, up 29.1 percent from the same period a year earlier.The number of the firms involved represented a whopping 51.4 percent increase from the 70 a year earl

South Korea plans to sell a combined 6.3 trillion won (US$5.58 billion) in state bonds next month, the finance ministry said Thursday.The government will issue 1.25 trillion won in bonds with a maturity of three years and 1.55 trillion won in five-year bonds in September.It also plans to sell 1.4 trillion won in 10-year Treasurys and a combined 2.1 trillion won of bonds with a maturity of between 20 and 30 years. (Yonhap)

Kakao Bank solidified its position as South Korea’s leading direct bank in its first month of operation, data showed Thursday, although concerns persist over customer service scams and loopholes in authentication. As of Wednesday, Kakao Bank, the second online-only bank to open in Korea following K bank, attracted some 2.9 million bank accounts, through which customers made deposits and savings worth a combined 1.8 trillion won ($1.6 billion) and took out loans worth 1.3 trillion won. Thes

South Korean stocks ended higher Thursday as institutions turned to net buyers. The won closed higher against the dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Price Index rose 9.44 points, or 0.40 percent, to close at 2,375.84. Trade volume was moderate at 290.54 million shares worth 4.59 trillion won ($4.07 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 428 to 372.Institutional investors bought a net 120 billion won. Foreigners bought stocks worth 14 billion won, extending their buying to a third straight

South Korean stocks extended gains late Thursday morning as foreigners and institutions scooped up market heavyweights. The won rose against the dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index was up 13.36 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,379.76 as of 11:20 a.m.Institutions and foreigners bought a combined 140 billion won ($124 million), offsetting net selling worth 156 billion won by individuals.  A tight range is widely expected this week ahead of the US Federal Reserve's annual econ

LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's top chemical firm, soared to a 52-week high on Thursday on solid earnings and hopes for its burgeoning battery business, industry sources said.LG Chem traded at 377,500 won ($345) on the Seoul bourse as of 10:05 a.m., up 3.14 percent from the previous session's close and becoming the seventh most valued firm on the local stock market, and bypassing Internet portal operator Naver and Samsung C&T, the de facto holding firm of Samsung Group.Over the past two months,

South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday helped by foreign buying. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 5.52 points, or 0.23 percent, to 2,371.92 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Analysts expected the Seoul stock market to move in a tight range this week ahead of the US Federal Reserve's annual economic policy symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Large-cap stocks traded mixed across the board, with leading steelmaker POSCO rising

Gold-related funds in South Korea have posted stellar returns over the past month, data showed Thursday, as geopolitical risks chilled the stock market and stoked investors' flight to safety.Those funds posted an average return of 3.49 percent in the month to Wednesday, the top performer among local investment funds worth 1 billion won ($880,000) or more, according to the data from financial information provider FnGuide.Comparable yields were 2.31 percent for exchange traded funds focused on ove

Short-selling in Korean stock markets is widely vilified and picked as the culprit behind market disruption

South Korean stocks ended higher Wednesday as foreigners increased their stock purchases that offset sell-offs by institutions. The won traded higher against the dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 1.07 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,366.40. Trade volume was moderate at 225.09 million shares worth 3.918 trillion won ($3.3 billion), with losers outnumbering winners 479 to 306.Foreigners and individuals bought a combined 183 billion won ($162 million) worth of stoc