South Korean stocks lost steam in late Tuesday trading as institutions turned net sellers after scooping up shares amid eased uncertainties. The won rose against the US dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 5.63 points, or 0.26 percent, to 2,140.13 as of 11:20 a.m.Institutional investors offloaded 25.01 billion won worth of stocks on profit-taking. Foreigners continued to sell stocks valued at 30.75 billion won. Investor sentiment has improved after the Unite

Foreign investors have boosted their won-denominated bond holdings so far this year, industry data showed Tuesday, despite growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Foreign inflows to the South Korean bond market also came in spite of the US Federal Reserve's decision to raise interest rates this year.  Offshore investors have purchased a net 16.5 trillion won ($14.5 billion) worth of won-denominated bonds as of last Friday, raising their hold

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, tracking gains on Wall Street, amid eased market uncertainties. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 5.12 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,150.88 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Analysts expected the main index to get a boost from the United States' decision not to designate South Korea as a currency manipulator in Tuesday's session.  The Dow Jones industrial average gained 0.90 percent, a

Organizers of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games on Tuesday signed KEB Hana Bank as their main banking partner.The two sides recently wrapped up their negotiations that began in February and announced their deal in a ceremony at KEB Hana Bank's headquarters in central Seoul.The bank will reportedly offer 11 billion won ($9.7 million) in sponsorships, though PyeongChang had earlier said it sought 15 billion won from its top banking partner.KEB Hana Bank was picked as the preferred negotiating part

Debt sales by South Korean companies dipped 25.4 percent on-month in March, as economic uncertainties limited corporate borrowing, data showed Tuesday.Although South Korea's exports have been showing signs of a moderate recovery, the nation's economy is confronting the prospects of protectionism by the Donald Trump administration and China's apparent economic retaliation over the deployment of an advanced US missile system in South Korea.South Korean firms issued bonds worth 10.3 trillion won ($

South Korean stocks closed higher Monday as institutional buying offset foreign selling amid eased uncertainties following the United States' decision not to designate South Korea as a currency manipulator. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 10.88 points, or 0.51 percent, to close at 2,145.76. Trade volume was moderate at 255.70 million shares worth 3.63 trillion won ($3.2 billion), with advancers outnumbering decliners 627 to 169.Anal

South Korean stocks extended gains late Monday morning as institutions increased their stock purchases on eased market uncertainties. The won rose against the US dollar.  The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index lost 8.44 points, or 0.40 percent, to 2,143.32 as of 11:20 a.m."Investor sentiment has improved after the United States has not designated South Korea as a currency manipulator. It seems to be factored in the main index," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyoung-min sa

South Korean stocks opened higher Monday as defensive stocks gained ground. The Korean won rose against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 6.51 points, or 0.30 percent, to 2,141.39 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Defensive stocks, that are less prone to external changes and provide constant earnings, mostly gained, with South Korea's No. 1 cosmetics company AmorePacific rising 3.0 percent and KB Financial Group jumping 5.08 percent. Keeping the main index in

The main creditor bank of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering on Sunday expected a “good result” in talks with a major bondholder that will help the shipyard stay afloat.The state-run Korea Development Bank and the National Pension Service have engaged in talks since late March to find common ground on debt rescheduling measures for the troubled shipbuilder.  “We have reached a consensus on many disputed points and expect a good outcome (from the talks) at the ear

South Korea's tax burden, which has steadily risen over the years, still remains among the lowest among the group of developed market economies with high income, data showed Sunday.Data by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showed that the tax burden ratio of Asia's fourth-largest economy stood at 18.5 percent in 2015, which is on par with Slovakia. The ratio takes into account both taxes paid to local and central governments. Corresponding numbers for J

South Korean stocks closed lower on Friday as investors sought safer assets amid the tension surrounding the Korean Peninsula, analysts said. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 13.73 points, or 0.64 percent, to close at 2,134.88. Trade volume was slim at 343 million shares worth 3.31 trillion won ($2.9 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 592 to 207.Despite the eased concerns, the South Korean market has been dogged by speculat

Foreign currency deposits held by banks operating in South Korea hit a record high in March as exporters deposited their dollar-denominated earnings, central bank data showed Wednesday.Outstanding foreign currency deposits held by local banks, domestic and foreign, reached $70.54 billion in March, up 3.8 percent from $67.94 billion a month earlier, the Bank of Korea said in a statement.Broken down, foreign currency deposits held by domestic lenders came to $60.33 billion in March, up from $56.45

The government said Friday it will release 6,700 tons of its fisheries stock starting next week to keep prices under control during the fishing prohibition period.The prohibition period began April 1 and will continue to Aug. 11, depending on different types of net fishing. Violators are subject to legal punishment.The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the government will put its fish stock on the market from April 17 to May 26, including4,500 tons of Alaska pollacks, 1,314 tons of mackerels

South Korean shares traded lower Friday morning as key blue chips continued to lose ground amid geopolitical concerns.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index dropped 11.35 points, or 0.53 percent, to 2,137.26 as of 11:20 a.m.Top market cap Samsung Electronics decreased 0.94 percent, and LG Electronics plunged 1.44 percent. LG Display shed 0.97 percent.Chemical firms were also among the losers, with industry leader LG Chem decreasing 0.18 and No. 1 cosmetics maker AmorePacific falling 0.3

Overseas branches of South Korean banks saw their combined net profit rise 15 percent on year to $650 million in 2016, thanks to a jump in incomes related to stocks and foreign exchange derivatives, government data showed Friday. The combined interest income at 178 overseas branches gained 6.4 percent on year to $1.35 billion, while non-interest income jumped 54.8 percent on year to $724 million, according to the data by the Financial Supervisory Service.Their average non-performing loan ratio s