South Korean stocks traded 0.22 percent lower late Thursday morning due to losses in shares of major banking groups and technology firms, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 4.36 points to 1,960.07 as of 11:20 a.m.Financials led the decline, with Shinhan Financial slumping 3.34 percent. Market bellwether Samsung Electronics also slipped 0.21 percent.Automakers limited losses, with No. 2 carmaker Kia Motors adding 2.77 percent.The local currency was changing

South Korean stocks started lower on Thursday, tracking overnight losses in the U.S. stock market, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped 0.98 points, or 0.05 percent, to 1,963.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Financials led the loss with KB Financial and Shinhan Financial falling 2.89 percent and 2.98 percent, respectively.Samsung Electronics, the country's top market cap, also lost 0.14 percent.The local currency was trading at 1,087.25 won against t

South Korean stocks closed 0.43 percent higher Wednesday as local exporters continued to rebound from their recent losses on the improved foreign exchange market conditions, analysts said. The local currency fell against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 8.47 points to 1,964.43. Trading volume was high at 515.9 million shares worth 4.2 trillion won (US$3.87 billion) with gainers outnumbering decliners 425 to 367."The local stock market recouped some

South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc. reported a second straight quarterly profit as its debt load eased and sales benefited from increased demand for chips used in smartphones and servers. The company said Wednesday its October-December net profit totaled 163.7 billion won ($151 million) compared with a 239.9 billion won loss a year earlier. SK Hynix returned to the black in the July-September quarter with a 2 billion won profit following a period of losses due to a slump in chip prices and weak

South Korean stocks traded 0.17 percent higher late Wednesday morning on the back of gains in tech shares, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 3.4 points to 1,959.36. Techs led the gains, with the world's two biggest computer memory chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix gaining 1.14 percent and 1.45 percent, respectively.In contrast, automakers stayed in negative territory, with top player Hyundai Motor falling 1.21 percent.The local currency was

South Korean stocks began higher on Wednesday, boosted by gains in major technology firms, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 7.06 points, or 0.36 percent, to 1,963.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.21 percent and SK hynix, which announced its fourth-quarter earnings ahead of the market's open, added 2.69 percent.Shipbuilders were also bullish, with leading player Hyundai Heavy Industries gaining 1.61 perc

이명박대통령은 29 최시중 전 방송통신위원장, 천신일 세중나모투어 회장, 박희태 전 국회의장 등 최측근을 포함한 55명에 대한 특별사면을 감행했다. 경제계 인사로는 이명박대통령의 사돈인 효성가의 조현준 효성섬유 PG장이 포함됐다. 이명박대통령은 이날 국무회의에서 즉석안건으로 상정된 특별사면 안건을 의결하며 “우리 정부 출범시 사면권을 남용하지 않을 것이고, 재임 중 발생한 권력형 비리에 대한 사면은 하지 않겠다고 발표한 적이 있다. 이번 사면도 그 원칙에 입각해서 실시했다”라 했다고박정하 청와대 대변인이 전했다. 특별사면 대상에는 용산사건 관련자 5명, 불우•외국인 수형자 8명도 포함되었지만 여야는 사면권을 남용해 측근 봐주기라며 강력히 비난했다. 박근혜 대통령 특별사면 강행에 대해 강한 유감을 표시했다. 윤창중 인수위 대변인은 브리핑을 통해 "이번 특사 조치는 대단히 유감스럽다"며 "부정부패와 비리관련자들에 대해 사면을 강행한 것은 국민적 지탄을 받을 것"이라고 말했습니다. 하지만

POSCO, South Korea's leading steelmaker, said Tuesday that its earnings sank 36 percent last year from a year earlier on weak demand and increased costs.Net profit reached 2.39 trillion won (US$2.17 billion) on a consolidated basis last year, compared with a profit of 3.71 billion won a year earlier, the company said.Sales slipped 7.7 percent on-year to 63.6 trillion won, and operating income also dropped 33.2 percent to 3.65 trillion won over the cited period, it said.Shares of POSCO closed at