[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares dropped sharply lower late morning on Oct. 11, while Samsung Electronics suffered a severe blow on its decision to end global sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.The benchmark KOSPI lost 14.92 points, or 0.73 percent, to 2,041.90 as of 11:20 a.m.Samsung Electronics plunged 5.54 percent, marking a second consecutive session of drop after reaching a record high of 1,706,000 won (US$1,529) on Oct. 7.The tech-giant earlier announced its decision to halt global s

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened lower on Oct. 11 on announcement by Samsung Electronics that it will halt global sales of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphone.The benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.81 point, or 0.04 percent, to 2,056.01 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Most large caps were in positive terrain with leading automaker Hyundai Motor advancing 1.50 percent and top portal operator Naver 1.61 percent.Samsung Electronics, on the other hand, plunged 3.99 percent, retreating for a second conse

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares closed slightly higher on Oct. 10, amid mounting expectations of favorable third-quarter earnings, analysts said. The Korean won also gained against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI closed at 2,056.82, adding 0.15 percent or 3.02 points. Trading volume was slim at 309 million shares, worth 4.56 trillion won (US$4.11 billion) with gainers outnumbering losers 451 to 357.Institutional investors were sole net purchasers, scooping up 333.5 billion won worth of loca

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares rose slightly higher late morning on Oct. 10.The benchmark KOSPI added 0.02 percent, or 0.50 point, to 2,054.30 as of 11:20 a.m.The index opened sharply lower but pared earlier losses on institutional buying.Samsung Electronics plunged 3.63 percent as investors apparently sought to cash in early gains.On Oct. 7, Samsung shares closed at a record high of 1,706,000 won, adding 0.89 percent from the previous session’s close.An earlier report that Samsung has tempo

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares fell sharp on Oct. 10, as investors prepared to cash in early gains.The benchmark KOSPI lost 11.13 points, or 0.54 percent, to 2,042.67 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The weak start followed losses on Wall Street last week.On Oct. 7, Dow Jones industrial average shed 0.15 percent to 18,240.49, with the tech-laden NASDAQ slipping 0.27 percent to 5,292.40.Large market caps traded mixed, while Samsung Electronics plunged 4.10 percent with investors moving to l

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks retreated on Oct. 7, as investors took a step back to observe US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rate hike. The Korean won fell against the greenback.The benchmark KOSPI shed 11.5 points, or 0.56 percent, to close at 2,053.8. Trade volume was moderate at 417.85 million shares worth 5.14 trillion won (US$4.61 billion), with decliners far beating gainers 611 to 199.Investors remained cautious ahead of US nonfarm payroll report due later in the day, which a

[THE INVESTOR] Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction won a 1 trillion won (US$916 million) bid to build combined-cycle power plants at the Fadhili oil field in Saudi Arabia, it announced on Oct. 7.The manufacturing arm of Doosan Group won the bid for the Fadhili Combined Hear and Power Project of Saudi Electricity Company and Saudi Aramco through a consortium co-led by French energy company Engie. The Export-Import Bank of Korea funded the group. Doosan Heavy’s Rabigh 2 power plant in Saudi Ara

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded a tad lower late morning on Oct. 7 as investors eyed a closely US jobs report for an interest rate hike. The benchmark KOSPI lost 5.25 points to 2,060.05 as of 11:20 a.m.Most market heavyweights traded weak, while Samsung affiliates were bullish after US hedge fund Elliott Management urged Samsung Electronics to streamline its corporate structure and increase returns to shareholders. Market kingpin Samsung Electronics rose 0.53 percent after posting upbe

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares opened slightly lower on Oct. 7 as investors continued to speculate on a possible interest rate hike. The benchmark KOSPI shed 1.9 points, or 0.09 percent, to 2,063.4 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Investors remained cautious ahead of US non-farm payroll report later in the day to get clues on whether the Federal Reserve will raise rates before the end of this year.Most market heavyweights traded weak, while Samsung affiliates were bullish after US hedge

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks rose on Oct. 6 after Samsung Electronics received a nudge from US hedge fund Elliot Management. The Korean won strengthened against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI added 12.3 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at 2,065.3. Trade volume was moderate at 332.83 million shares worth 5.23 trillion won (US$4.70 billion), with decliners outnumbering gainers 448 to 348.Shares of Samsung Group affiliates rallied after Elliott Management urged the crown jewel of South

[DISCLOSURE] KG Inicis (035600) said on Oct. 6 that it decided on a dividend of 250 won (US$0.22) per share for stocks worth 6.6 billion won (US$5.9 million). The ex-dividend date is to be confirmed within one month following a shareholders meeting. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded 0.27 percent higher late morning on Oct. 6, on gains in Samsung Group affiliates amid US-based hedge fund Elliot Management’s interest in the firm’s corporate governance. The benchmark KOSPI advanced 5.48 points to 2,058.48 as of 11:20 a.m.Market kingpin Samsung Electronics increased 3.52 percent after Elliott Management urged the tech giant to split itself into a holding firm and called for a special dividend.Its shares briefly surpassed the record-high

[DISCLOSURE] Namhae Chemistry (025860) said on Oct. 6 that it has decided to sign a trust contract with NH Investment & Securities to purchase valuable securities worth 19 billion won (US$17.10 million) to manage assets and improve profitability. The interest rate will follow the open market rate and the maturity date is Oct. 12.By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares opened higher on Oct. 6 on gains in Samsung Group affiliates following US hedge fund Elliott Management’s involvement in its business structure. The benchmark KOSPI advanced 12.4 points, or 0.6 percent, to 2,065.4 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Samsung Electronics jumped 4.2 percent after Elliott on Oct. 6 urged the tech giant to split itself into a holding firm and called for a special dividend. Samsung C&T, a construction arm that serves as the group’s

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares closed slightly lower on Oct. 5, on tension surrounding interest rate hike in the US and the European Central Bank’s bond buying program. The Korean won fell against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI lost 1.86 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 2,053. Trade volume was slim at 289.99 million shares worth 4.22 trillion won (US3.78 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 446 to 347.Local shares started off on a weak note as investors fretted about the pros

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares dropped slightly in late morning on Oct. 5, amid uncertainty over the US monetary policy.The benchmark KOSPI ticked down 0.88 point, or 0.04 percent, to 2,053.98 as of 11:20 a.m.Local shares were weak on early trade as both foreign and institutions fretted about the prospect of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike in coming months, following hawkish comments from one of the Fed officials. Top automaker Hyundai Motor retreated 0.36 percent and steelmaker POSCO d

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened lower on Oct. 5, taking a hint from losses on Wall Street. The benchmark KOSPI shed 15.31 points, or 0.75 percent, to 2,039.48 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Stocks were down across the board as investors fretted about the prospect of a US Federal Reserve interest rate hike in coming months.Samsung Electronics fell 0.87 percent, and leading automaker Hyundai Motor lost 1.08 percent.Top cosmetic maker AmorePacific retreated 1.01 percent, and steelmak

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares ended higher on Oct. 4, as foreign investors turned their interest toward market giants. The Korean won fell against the US greenback.The benchmark KOSPI added 11.23 points, or 0.55 percent, to close at 2,054.86. Trade volume was slim at 314.79 million shares worth 4.83 trillion won (US$4.36 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 505 to 300.Analysts said an upbeat US manufacturing survey eased concerns about the health of the world’s largest economy and bol

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded slightly higher late morning on Oct. 4, as foreign investors took interest in market giants amid rising tech and auto shares. The benchmark KOSPI added 13.14 points to 2,056.77 as of 11:20 a.m.Tech shares advanced ahead of the third-quarter earnings season.Top market cap Samsung Electronics rose 1 percent as the tech giant was set to release its third-quarter earnings guidance on Oct. 6, and SK hynix, the world’s second-largest chipmaker, increased 3.48

[THE INVESTOR] Viromed announced on Oct. 4 that it has obtained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to enter phase 2 clinical trials of VM202, its amyotrophic lateral sclerosis treatment. The gene therapy developed by the South Korean pharmaceutical company has been classified as an orphan drug by the USFDA during phase 1 clinical trials due to the effectiveness it displayed with ALS patients. The phase 2 trial is expected to last 9 months with 84 patients participating in the proc