An average wage earner in South Korea would have to save up one’s entire income for 14 years to buy a home in Seoul, a government study showed Wednesday. The price-to-income ratio -- the median home price divided by the median annual household income -- for Seoul in 2021 jumped to 14.1 from 12.5 in the year before, according to the 2021 Korea Housing Survey released by the Ministry of Land, Infr...

Seoul shares opened higher Wednesday amid concerns over a global recession after the US Federal Reserve vowed to continue its monetary tightening to tame inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 6.35 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,339.64 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Institutions and individuals bought a combined 53 billion won ($41 million) worth of stocks, exceedin...

South Korea's exports slipped 8.8 percent on-year in the first 20 days of December, data showed Wednesday, due mainly to weak shipments of chips and mobile devices. The country's outbound shipments stood at $33.6 billion in the Dec. 1-20 period, compared with $36.8 billion a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. Imports moved up 1.9 percent on-year to $40 billion d...

South Korean stocks ended lower Tuesday dragged down by investor concerns over a global recession and the Japanese central bank's yield curve policy change that heralds a possible monetary tightening. The Korean won sharply strengthened against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 18.88 points, or 0.80 percent, to close at 2,333.29, extending its losing streak to a...

This year's inflation rate projected to be highest since 1997 financial crisis

Seoul shares opened lower Tuesday, tracking falls on Wall Street, amid investor concerns over a global recession after the US Federal Reserve vowed to continue its monetary tightening to tame inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index declined 10.63 points, or 0.45 percent, to 2,341.54 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average decreased 0.49...

Seoul shares ended lower to extend their falls for the third consecutive day Monday as investors remain concerned the US Federal Reserve's additional rate hikes could result in a global recession next year. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 7.85 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 2,352.17, extending its losing streak to a third sess...

With partial reduction on gasoline tax cut, price could increase by 99 won per liter

South Korea's export growth is expected to fall to the zero-percent range in 2023 amid high raw material prices and slowing major economies, a poll showed Monday. The survey of 150 companies in the country's 12 key export industries showed overseas shipments are forecast to expand 0.5 percent in the coming year from 2022. By sector, exports of electric and electronics products are predicted to ...

South Korean shares opened lower Monday on growing fears of a global economic slowdown over the Federal Reserve's monetary tightening to tame inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 11.29 points, or 0.48 percent, to 2,348.73 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Friday, US shares ended lower as weak data on the real economy and the Fed's rate hikes stoked fears of the g...

Market cap rankings of major companies change, while Samsung Electronics maintains top spot

Hana Bank on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Toss Securities, the brokerage arm of fintech company Viva Republica, to jointly provide around-the-clock service for foreign exchange trading. “Through continuous cooperation with various financial companies like Toss Securities, we will create a new trend in the foreign exchange market,” Hana Bank official Namgoong One said in a s...

South Korean stocks finished slightly lower Friday as investors worried about a global economic slowdown amid the Federal Reserve's continued push for aggressive monetary tightening. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shed 0.95 point, or 0.04 percent, to close at 2,360.02, extending a losing streak to a second session. The trading volu...

South Korean shares opened sharply lower Friday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street, as the US Federal Reserve's continued push for aggressive monetary tightening deepened concerns about a global economic recession. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 20.39 points, or 0.86 percent, to 2,340.58 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average...

Seoul shares ended lower Thursday after the US Federal Reserve signaled its plans for additional interest rate hikes next year with the warning of an economic slowdown. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 38.28 points, or 1.60 percent, to close at 2,360.97. Trading volume was light at 366.15 million shares worth 6.03 trillion won ($4.6 ...