[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks dipped 0.5 percent on Oct. 25, as investors decided to sell off shares. The Korean won fell against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI fell 10.57 points to close at 2,037.17. Trade volume was moderate at 294 million shares worth 4.82 trillion won (US$4.25 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 583 to 232.Top market cap Samsung Electronics shed 0.68 percent to end at 1,597,000 won, and No. 2 market cap Korea Electric Power Corp. fell 0.68 percent to end at

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks fell late morning on Oct. 25 as Samsung affiliates suffered losses.The benchmark KOSPI shed 14.02 points, or 0.68 percent, to 2,033.72 as of 11:20 a.m.Top market cap Samsung Electronics fell 0.62 percent, and major chipmaker SK hynix jumped 2.12 percent.AmorePacific, the country’s top cosmetics maker, dropped 10.48 percent on news that China is moving to restrict its people from visiting South Korea.Naver, the country’s top portal operator, remained flat.Hyunda

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened lower on Oct. 25, amid market heavyweights losing momentum. The benchmark KOSPI fell 10.13 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,037.61 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics dipping 0.68 percent.Samsung C&T, Samsung’s de facto holding firm, lost 0.6 percent, and state-run Korean Electric Power Corp. declined 0.59 percent.In contrast, SK hynix was up 1.37 percent on its better-than-expected third-

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks hiked 0.73 percent on Oct. 24, as investors purchased Samsung affiliates’ shares based on its plans to change its governance structure. The Korean won fell against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI advanced 14.74 points to close at 2,047.74. Trade volume was moderate at 248 million shares worth 3.44 trillion won (US$3.04 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 429 to 386.South Korean stocks opened higher on gains in market heavyweights such as Samsung Ele

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s terms of trade recovered on-year in September amid bigger falls in import prices compared to losses in export prices, central bank data showed Oct. 24.The terms of trade index for products came to 101.74 last month, up 0.2 percent from a year earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea.The index measures the amount of imports a country can purchase for each unit of exports, showing how the country’s exports are doing in comparison with those of othe

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korea will host an international information, communications and technology conference this week, the Science Ministry said Oct. 24.The ICT Prospect Conference 2017, hosted by the ministry, will be held in Seoul on Oct 25-26, officials said. The country has been pushing forward with various projects to secure a new growth strategy to cope with the fast-paced industrial transformation, dubbed the “fourth industrial revolution” and characterized by a fusion of cutting-edge te

[THE INVESTOR]  Hyundai Heavy Industries won a contract to build two frigates for the Philippines Navy, the company said Monday. Chung Ki-sun, the executive vice president of HHI Corporate Planning Office, and Philippines’ Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana signed an agreement in Manila to build two 2,600-ton frigates worth 370 billion won ($325.7 million). The 107-meter long frigates with a width of 12 meters will be propelled with a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system with max

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks traded higher late morning on Oct. 24, continuing its gain from Samsung shares. The benchmark KOSPI rose 5.75 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,038.75 as of 11:20 a.m.Top market cap Samsung Electronics rose 0.19 percent, and major chipmaker SK hynix was down 1.83 percent.Samsung C&T, Samsung’s de facto holding firm, advanced 3.43 percent on optimism that the company will benefit most from the group’s ongoing efforts to reshuffle its governance structure.Naver, the

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened higher on Oct. 24, amid an improvement in Samsung stocks. The benchmark KOSPI rose 9.68 points, or 0.48 percent, to 2,042.68 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics adding 0.94 percent.Samsung C&T, Samsung’s de facto holding firm, gained 1.56 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 0.1 percent, and top steelmaker POSCO remained flat.Naver, the operator of the country’s top internet por

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares ended lower on Oct. 21, as Samsung Electronics fell nearly 2 percent. The local currency fell against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI edged down 7.6 points, or 0.37 percent, to 2,033.00. Trade volume came to 276 million shares worth 3.95 trillion won (US$3.48 billion), with decliners outnumbering advancers 529 to 280.Foreigners net-bought 44.1 billion won worth of stocks, extending their buying spree into the seventh consecutive session.Institutions also p

[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 stocks tumbled on Oct. 20, ending a four-day hike. The local currency fell against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI edged down 0.34 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,040.60. Trade volume came to 265.55 million shares worth 3.58 trillion won (US$3.18 billion), with decliners outnumbering advancers 475 to 331.Foreigners net-bought 117.5 billion won worth of stocks, far less than 227.6 billion won posted in the previous session.Individuals also sold a net 210 billion won

[DISCLOSURE] Suncore (051170), an auto parts manufacturer, said on Oct. 20 that it has decided on a capital increase of 15 billion won (US$13.3 million) through third-party allotment. A total of 2,901,350 shares will be issued and 2,127,660 shares will be offered to Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi entrepreneur will be Suncore’s largest shareholder following the deal. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[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.

[DISCLOSURE] Hi-Steel (071090) said on Oct. 19 that it has been cleared by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to enter its corporate restructuring process under the Special Act on Corporate Revitalization. The steel pipe manufacturer had applied for the process on Oct. 5 and plans to sell off its factory in Incheon and some of its facilities as part of the plan. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[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] The volatility in the won-dollar exchange rates has eased in the third quarter, central bank data showed Oct. 19.The average gap between the daily high and low of the won-dollar exchange rates came to 7.2 won in the July-September period, smaller than the 7.7 won fluctuation a quarter earlier, the Bank of Korea said. The third-quarter tally also marked the lowest level since the 6.3 won posted in the fourth quarter of 2015.The average daily variation, showing the change from the p