Petitions submitted by investors reeling from losses due to Hong Kong-tied derivatives are laid out at the National Assembly in Seoul on Tuesday. A group of investors held a protest, calling for compensation for their losses and accusing banks of misleading them. The principal losses from the financial product are estimated to reach 6 trillion won ($4.5 billion) in the first half of this year. (Yonhap)

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 18.70 points, or 0.75 percent, to 2,519.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US stocks gained ground as investors looked ahead to scheduled earnings announcements by major companies and the Federal Reserve's rate decision meeting later this week. The S&P 500 climbed 0.8 percent to close at a fresh high, while the Dow Jones Indu

South Korean stocks closed higher for the third straight trading day Monday as institutions and foreign investors shored tech, bio and other blue chips. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 22.09 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 2,500.65, extending its winning streak to a third day. Trade volume was moderate at 421.5 million shares worth 8.85 trillion won ($6.62 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 523 to 361. Institutions and for

Korean private equity firms are increasingly betting big on health-focused companies at home and abroad, in a bid to capitalize on the growth potential of the health care and wellness sector amid a globally aging population. In Korea alone, where accelerated demographic change is observed due to the low birth rate, the number of people aged 65 or over was 9.73 million in 2023, about 20 percent of the total population, surging from 10 percent back in 2010. Hahn & Co., the nation's largest pri

New York-based investment firm launches Yeouido unit to cater to Korean investors wrestling with office loans in US

Seoul shares opened higher Monday as institutions and foreign investors scooped up tech, bio and other blue chips. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 0.49 percent, or 12.11 points, to 2,490.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics gained 0.41 percent, and its consumer electronics rival LG Electronics rose 1.07 percent. Bio shares also traded higher, with Samsung Biologics soaring 5.30 percent and Celltrion advancing 2.41 percent. Auto and

Seoul shares closed higher Friday on battery gains amid a report that the US economy remains resilient. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.33 percent, or 8.22 points, to 2,478.56. The Kospi has risen 0.2 percent this week. Trading volume was slim at 285.54 million shares worth 7 trillion won ($5.2 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 549 to 312. Institutions and foreigners bought a combined 380 billion won worth of stocks, offsett

Seoul shares opened lower Friday on tech losses, despite overnight gains on Wall Street following a report indicating the US economy remains stronger than expected. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.06 percent, or 1.44 points, to 2,468.90 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.6 percent to 38,049.13, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq climbed 0.2 percent to 15,510.50. The US economy grew at an estimated 3.3 percent in the fourth quarter

Seoul shares ended slightly higher on Thursday, helped by gains in auto stocks as their 2023 earnings fared well on the back of robust demand. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 0.03 percent, or 0.65 points, to 2,470.34. Trading volume was moderate at 337.26 million shares worth 7.5 trillion won ($5.6 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 443 to 424. Institutions and foreigners bought a combined 236 billion won worth of stocks, offse

Seoul shares opened lower Thursday, tracking an overnight fall on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.58 percent, or 14.42 points, to 2,455.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3 percent to 37,806.39, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq rose 0.4 percent to 15,481.92. Tesla reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter, which dragged down EV battery makers here. In Seoul, large-cap stocks were mixed. Mark

South Korean stocks closed lower Wednesday ahead of the release of earnings reports by major firms. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 8.92 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,469.69. Trading volume was low at 381.6 million shares worth 7.17 trillion won ($5.36 billion), with losers far outpacing gainers 608 to 271. Foreigners sold shares worth 24.1 billion won, while retail investors bought a net 103.8 billion won. Institutions sold a net 8

South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday as investors sought profits. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 12.29 points, or 0.5 percent, to 2,466.32 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.25 percent lower as investors cashed in profits, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.43 percent. In Seoul, top tech giant Samsung Electronics moved down 1.2 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 1.21 percent. Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor

South Korean stocks closed higher Tuesday as investors scooped up undervalued shares after US stock indexes closed at an all-time high overnight. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 14.26 points, or 0.58 percent, to 2,464.35. Trading volume was moderate at 461 million shares worth 7.87 trillion won ($5.89 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 482 to 379. Foreigners bought shares worth 137.9 billion won, while retail investors offload

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday as US shares reached an all-time high overnight on growing optimism over the US economy. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 9.84 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,474.19 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.36 percent higher to set an all-time high level. The S&P 500 advanced 0.22 percent, also reaching a fresh high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.32 percent as well. In Seoul, top tech g

South Korean stocks lost ground on Monday as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of the release of fourth-quarter earnings reports. The Korean won edged up against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 8.39 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,464.35. Trading volume was low at 376 million shares worth 8.25 trillion won ($6.1 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 575 to 295. Foreigners bought shares worth 295.3 billion won, while retail investors offloaded a net 244 bill