[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares dropped slightly late morning on Oct. 21 amid foreign investors’ decision to tuck in recent gains. The benchmark KOSPI edged down 6.73 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,033.87 as of 11:20 a.m.Foreigners were net-sellers following a buying spree for the sixth consecutive session, while institutional traders were net-buyers.Market sentiment was hit by the outcome of the European Central Bank’s monetary policy meeting.  Naver headquarters. Naver shares declined on the

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened lower on Oct. 21, amid growing nervousness around the European Central Bank’s monetary policy. The benchmark KOSPI dropped 8.15 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,032.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 18,162.35, down 40.27 points, or 0.2 percent, from a day earlier, after the ECB kept its policy rate unchanged and some major US firms issued disappointing earnings reports. On the Seoul bourse, Samsung

[THE INVESTOR] Riding on the mounting wave of attention the Korean market is receiving from foreign investors, Saudi Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, who is also chairman of KBW Investments, has decided to acquire majority stake in Korean auto parts manufacturer Suncore. The deal will be sealed through capital increase via third-party allotment worth 15 billion won (US$13.30 million). A total of 2,901,350 shares of the KOSDAQ-traded firm will be offered to seven individual investors with 2,

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded slightly higher late morning on Oct. 20, amid steady buying spree of foreign investors. The benchmark KOSPI rose 2.01 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,042.95 as of 11:20 a.m.The broad index tracked overnight Wall Street gains led by a pickup in oil prices and the upswing of energy-related shares.Foreigners net-bought stocks here for six days in a row and institutions also turned to net buyers.Market watchers cited the “price rigidity” of international oil pr

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Oct. 20, on Wall Street gains bolstered with a rise in oil prices. The benchmark KOSPI rose 6.41 points, or 0.31 percent, to 2,047.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The Dow Jones industrial average gained 40.68 points, or 0.2 percent, to 18,202.62, led by the upswing of energy-related shares.On the Seoul bourse, top cap Samsung Electronics was up 0.86 percent after a 2.27 percent gain a day earlier. The state-run Korea Electric Power Corp.

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks continued to rise on Oct. 19, bolstered by Samsung Electronics’ sharp rise. The local currency strengthened against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI edged up 0.51 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,040.94. Trade volume came to 307.77 million shares worth 4.01 trillion won (US$3.50 billion), with decliners outnumbering advancers 432 to 363.The broad index started the day’s trade lower, bucking overnight Wall Street gains but soon turned positive as foreigners scoo

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares rebounded late morning on Oct. 19, amid steady net buying by foreign investors. The benchmark KOSPI rose 4.87 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,045.30 as of 11:20 a.m.The broad index started the day’s trade lower, bucking overnight Wall Street gains, but soon turned positive as foreigners scooped up shares. Institutions and individuals net-sold stocks.Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rebounded from a 0.06 percent loss a day earlier despite concerns over the t

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks ended higher on Oct. 18, supported by gains in finance, steel and chemical industries. The local currency rose against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI climbed 12.82 points, or 0.63 percent, to 2,040.43. Trade volume came to 300.93 million shares worth 3.8 trillion won (US$3.30 billion), with advancers outnumbering decliners 432 to 366.Individuals net-sold 286 billion won worth of stocks, but it was offset by the net buying by foreign and institutional trad

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares hiked late morning on Oct. 18, as foreigners and institutions scooped up local stocks.The benchmark KOSPI rose 4.85 point, or 0.24 percent, to 2,032.46 as of 11:20 a.m.The broad index bucked overnight losses on Wall Street.“The South Korean stock market is expected to advance (throughout the day) despite a decline in the US equity market,” Seo Sang-young, a Kiwoom Securities analyst, said. “Although international oil prices hovered below US$50, the price drop w