[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Aug. 16, boosted by positive US economic data and a rebound in global oil prices. The benchmark KOSPI rose 9.12 points, or 0.44 percent, to 2,059.59 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The main index continued to gain after marking a 1.61 percent increase for the whole of last week. On Aug. 12, it closed at 2,050.47 points, hitting fresh yearly highs.(theinvestor@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks edged up on Aug. 12, extending their winning streak for the seventh consecutive session and hitting fresh yearly highs. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.67 points, or 0.08 percent, to close at 2,050.47. Trade volume was moderate at 372 million shares worth 4.53 trillion won (US$4.10 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 519 to 284.After starting slightly higher, the KOSPI stock index swung between gains and losses. Yoo S

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded lower late morning on Aug. 12, retreating from fresh yearly highs a day ago. The benchmark KOSPI hit a 10-month high of over 2,060 during early morning trading. The index shed 2.15 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,046.65 as of 11:20 a.m.After starting slightly higher, the KOSPI stock index swung between gains and losses. China, South Korea’s No. 1 export destination, reported that its July factory output rose six percent on year, missing analysts’ expectatio

[DISCLOSURE] LS Cable & System (006260) announced on Aug. 11 that it has sold 8,445,487 treasury stocks worth 665.5 billion won (US$603.80 million) to prepare for the initial public offering of its subsidiary LS Cable & System Asia in September.

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Aug. 12, thanks to a rebound in global oil prices.The benchmark KOSPI rose 6.98 points, or 0.34 percent, to 2,055.78 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Most large caps traded mixed with Samsung Electronics gaining 0.32 percent. Chipmaker SK hynix declined 0.72 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor edged up 0.74 percent, and steelmaker POSCO rose 1.86 percent.Naver, the operator of the country’s leading internet portal, added 0.13 percent.The loc

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks rose slightly on Aug. 11 on the back of gains in tech stocks, extending its winning streak for a sixth consecutive session and hitting fresh yearly highs.The benchmark KOSPI rose 4.16 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 2,048.80. Trade volume was moderate at 342 million shares worth 4.42 trillion won (US$4 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 419 to 370.Trading was choppy. The market opened slightly lower and it swung between gains and losses. As expected

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded lower late morning on Aug. 11 on foreign sell-offs. The benchmark KOSPI shed 5.52 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,039.12 as of 11:20 a.m.As expected, the Bank of Korea kept its key interest rate unchanged at an all-time low of 1.25 percent earlier in the day, citing a need to assess the effect of previous rate cuts. Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics shedding 0.45 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix up 0.15 percent.AmorePaci

[DISCLOSURE] U&I (056090) said on Aug. 11 that the terms of its supply contract with Shangdong Buchang Pharmaceutical regarding K-MET, a metallic bio-absorbable screw to fix bones, has been modified. The exclusive license fee has been changed to US$5 million and the annual fee to at least US$3 million. The license will be valid for 14 years and the total fee is expected to reach at least US$47 million.

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened lower on Aug. 11, retreating from fresh yearly highs a day earlier. The benchmark KOSPI fell 5.42 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,039.22 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The Bank of Korea is set to hold a rate-setting meeting, with many analysts expected the central bank to keep its key interest rate unchanged. Most large caps were in negative territory with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 0.19 percent. Major chipmaker SK hynix fell 0.59 perce

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks rose on Aug. 10, hitting fresh yearly highs on the back of foreign buying. The benchmark KOSPI rose 0.86 points, or 0.04 percent, to close at 2,044.64. Trade volume was moderate at 327 million shares worth 4.53 trillion won (US$4.10 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 416 to 374.After rising to a nine-month high a day earlier, the KOSPI stock index started 0.04 percent lower and it swung between gains and losses.Market expectations for an interest rate h

[DISCLOSURE] Woojeon (052270) will shut down Dongguan Woojeon, its wholly owned subsidiary in China, as part of corporate restructuring following a decline in client orders and difficulties collecting account receivables from major clients, it announced on Aug. 10. The shutdown cost is 121 billion won (US$110.4 million), which accounts for 62.89 percent of the parent company’s total revenue in 2015.

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded lower late morning on Aug. 10 as the Korean won surged against the US dollar. The benchmark KOSPI shed 1.15 point, or 0.06 percent, to 2,042.63 as of 11:20 a.m.After rising to a nine-month high a day earlier, the KOSPI stock index started 0.04 percent lower and it swung between gains and losses.Market expectations for an interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve were slightly lower following softer US productivity data. Such sentiment weakened demand

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea's local currency hit 1099.5 won against the US dollar in early morning trading on Aug. 10, a record low since June 22, 2015, when it was 1097.5 won. S&P Global Ratings’ recent decision to upgrade South Korea’s sovereign rating and low expectations surrounding US Federal Reserve’s decisions on interest rates are considered to have contributed to the won’s gain. The increasing foreign investments in South Korean companies is also considered as a major reason behind the g

[DISCLOSURE] Daechang (012800) announced on Aug. 10 that it has resumed production of brass products at one of its plants on Aug. 9 following the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s decision to lift its ban. The revenue from production at the plant was 501.7 billion won (US$455.8 million), 49.35 percent of its total sales in 2015.

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Aug. 10, extending gains after hitting a nine-month high a day earlier.The benchmark KOSPI rose 2.43 points, or 0.12 percent, to 2,046.21 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics gaining 0.32 percent. Major chipmaker SK hynix fell 0.57 percent. Naver, the country’s biggest internet portal, rose 1.32 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor was flat, and its affiliate Kia Motors inched down 0

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks hit a nine-month high Aug. 9, as foreign investors continued to buy local stocks. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark KOSPI rose 12.66 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 2,043.78. Trade volume was moderate at 433 million shares worth 4.09 trillion won (US$3.69 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 491 to 302.The KOSPI last surpassed the 2,040-level on Nov. 6 last year. The local stock market opened higher, buoyed by improved sentimen

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded slightly higher late morning on Aug.9, with improved sentiment.The benchmark KOSPI rose 4.85 points, or 0.24 percent, to 2,035.97 as of 11:20 a.m.Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics shedding 0.57 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix up 0.29 percent.Top carmaker Hyundai Motor gained 1.88 percent and its affiliate Kia Motors rose 1.34 percent. AmorePacific, the largest cosmetics maker, fell 0.66 percent.Naver, the operator of

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Aug. 9 on the back of gains in tech and auto stocks. The benchmark KOSPI rose 5.15 points, or 0.25 percent, to 2,036.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics gaining 0.06 percent. Major chipmaker SK hynix fell 1.14 percent. Top automaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.5 percent, and its affiliate Kia Motors inched up 0.61 percent. The local currency was trading at 1,106.80 won against the US do

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks rose to hit fresh yearly highs on Aug. 8, as positive US jobs data eased concerns about the pace of an economic slowdown. The Korean won gained against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI rose 13.18 points, or 0.65 percent, to close at 2,031.12. Trade volume was slim at 266 million shares worth 4.09 trillion won (US$3.68 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 420 to 387.“As US economic indicators improve, the possibility of a US rate hike in September is like

[THE INVESTOR] Global credit appraiser Standard & Poor’s raised South Korea‘s sovereign rating one notch to “AA” from “AA-” on Aug. 8.“The upgrade reflects our assessment that Korea’s strong record of steady growth has generated a prosperous economy, greater fiscal and monetary flexibility, and continual improvements in external metrics,” the company said in a statement.“Our rating on Korea reflects the country’s favorable policy environment, sound fiscal position and net external creditor posit