South Korean stocks retreated 0.28 percent Friday as investors took profits after recent rallies ahead of key U.S. employment data release, analysts said. The local currency rose against the greenback.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 5.61 points to 1,988.09. Trading volume was thin at 221.5 million shares worth 4.04 trillion won ($3.8 billion), with advancers outpacing losers 464 to 325. “The Korean stocks have rallied in a short term, and it prompted investors to indulge in

Offsetting a prolonged slump in domestic construction orders, overseas demand for Korean builders has been on the rise, particularly in the Middle East. According to the International Contractors Association of Korea, the value of overseas construction orders procured by Korean builders surged 67 percent to $16.2 billion in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period a year ago. “The overseas order amount for the first three months was the highest in four years since the same peri

The nation’s stock market may face volatility this week depending on the geopolitical uncertainty surrounding the crisis in the Crimean Peninsula and the U.S. Fed’s scheduled policy meeting, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index finished at 1,919.9 Friday, down 2.5 percent from a week earlier.The KOSPI came under selling pressure on concerns over a slowdown in the Chinese economy and continued tensions in Ukraine.“The main index may face volatile sessions due to policy un

The 10th round of talks for a Korea-China free trade agreement will start on Monday for a five-day run at the Korea International Exhibition Center in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The new round will continue discussing overall areas, including products, services, investment, regulations and cooperation, the ministry said.A major breakthrough came in the seventh round of negotiations held in Beijing in last September, in which the countries ag

Hyundai Motor, the nation’s top automaker, said Sunday that pre-sale orders for its new Sonata sedan topped the 13,000 unit mark in eight business days, fanning hopes that demand for mid-sized sedans will grow in the country.The world’s fifth-largest automaker said it has received slightly over 13,000 orders for the Sonata LF since March 5 when it started accepting pre-orders.Hyundai said the level of interest shown by local consumers is noteworthy because the purchases are being made without th

A nuclear reactor at the nation’s Wolseong nuclear power plant complex automatically stopped operating early Saturday, plant operator Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. said, adding that they are still investigating the cause.The 700,000-kilowatt unit 3 at the complex stopped operating at 6:50 a.m. on Saturday when its safety shutdown system became engaged, according to KHNP. It added that power supply will remain stable throughout the weekend.The reactor, located in the country’s southeastern prov