South Korea’s sovereign bond market is likely to be included among the top grade of global market indices, as abating inflation revives investors’ appetite for government bonds, according to economists from Standard Chartered Group on Friday. At the 2024 Global Research Briefing conference hosted by the Korean unit in Seoul, Arup Ghosh, Standard Chartered Bank's co-head of Asia rates research, predicted that Korean treasury bonds will take a positive turn this year due to the tr

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Monday on the back of gains from technology shares. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 4.81 points, or 0.19 percent, to 2,477.55 in the first 15 minutes of trading. South Korea's top tech giant Samsung Electronics moved up 0.67 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 2.41 percent. Naver, which operates the country's top online portal, shot up 2.32 percent, with Kakao also advancing 1.74 percent. Pharmaceutical shares wer

South Korean stocks soared more than 1.3 percent Friday as big-cap chip shares rallied following an overnight tech boost on Wall Street. The local currency edged up against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 32.70 points, or 1.34 percent, to 2,472.74. Trading volume was slim at 499.2 million shares worth 9 trillion won ($6.7 billion), with winners outpacing losers 518 to 345. Foreigners turned to net buyers with a net purchase of 683.2 billion won worth of shar

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index jumped 31.68 points, or 1.3 percent, to 2,471.72 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, all three major US indexes gained ground, led by the strong performance of tech giants, such as Apple and TSMC. In Seoul, most big-cap shares started in positive territory. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics soared 2.65 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix

Foreign investors continued the selling spree on the local stock market amid heightened geopolitical tensions both within and outside the Korean Peninsula, while the Korean won weakened against the dollar. The benchmark Kospi closed at 2,440.04 points Thursday. Though it dipped to the 2,430 range on the previous trading day, it managed to make a slight recovery backed by the 119.6 billion won ($82 million) net buying of retail investors. Yet foreigners continued the selling streak for five conse

South Korean stocks closed slightly higher Thursday as investors hunted bargains following a recent market decline triggered by diminished hope for the US Federal Reserve's rate cut. The Korean won gained against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index climbed 4.14 points, or 0.17 percent, to 2,440.04. Trading volume was moderate at 555 million shares worth 8.12 trillion won ($6 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 444 to 421. Foreigners dumped shares worth 130.5 b

By Steve Brice How to invest in China is the question I am asked the most. China is facing a lot of headwinds. The economy has slowed dramatically from the post-COVID reopening boost at the turn of last year and geopolitical tensions are everywhere for people to see. Against this backdrop, I see a three-pronged approach to China investments. First, focus your China equity investments in areas that are less likely to face headwinds. Second, diversify to other parts of Asia. And third, conside

South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Thursday as investors hunted for bargains following the recent extended losses amid dimmed prospects for the US Federal Reserve's rate cuts. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.91 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,441.81 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 0.25 percent lower, with the S&P 500 slipping 0.56 percent. The tech-heavy Nasdaq had decreased 0.59 percent. The stronger-

KB Kookmin Bank said Wednesday it will provide 372.1 billion won ($276.4 million) in financial support measures for the self-employed, small business owners and vulnerable groups facing difficulties due to high borrowing costs and prices. The sum represents the largest among such other plans put forward by its local peers responding to the government’s call to share profits yielded from high rates with those still struggling to recover from the fallout of COVID-19. KB’s dual-track

South Korean stocks plunged nearly 2.5 percent Wednesday on dampened hopes that the Federal Reserve will start cutting its rates soon and uncertainties over the Chinese economy. The local currency sharply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 61.69 points, or 2.47 percent, to 2,435.90. Trading volume was heavy at 950.6 million shares worth 11.01 trillion won ($8.2 billion), with losers far outpacing winners 850 to 70. Foreigners and institutions dump

Authorities wary about accepting crypto as underlying asset

KEB Hana Bank CEO Lee Seung-lyul (right) and Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Bok-hyun pose for a photo after the lender was named an Excellent Institution for Promotion of Coexistence and Cooperation in 2023 by the financial regulator on Wednesday. The award was given in recognition of the bank's efforts to help resolve the country's low fertility rate by launching a savings product that provides preferential interest rates for parents and pregnant women. (KEB Hana Bank)

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Wednesday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street amid dampened hopes for the Federal Reserve's early rate cuts. After starting marginally higher, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 14.13 points, or 0.57 percent, to 2,483.46 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, all three major US indexes lost ground as Fed Gov. Christopher Waller's comments cooled bets on the Fed's early rate cuts. A slide in Apple and Bo

South Korean stocks slid more than 1 percent Tuesday as escalating geopolitical tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula weakened investors' appetite for risky assets. The local currency sharply fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 28.4 points, or 1.12 percent, to 2,497.59. Trading volume was slightly heavy at 641.9 million shares worth 8.5 trillion won ($6.4 billion), with losers outpacing winners 647 to 230. Institutions and foreigners led the

South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday, tracking overnight losses on the European stock market. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 4.37 points, or 0.17 percent, to 2,521.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. While Wall Street was closed, European stocks declined on contraction in the German economy and hawkish comments by the European Central Bank officials. In Seoul, big-cap shares started mixed. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics fell 0.41 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker S