[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks ended lower on Sept. 26 as a drop in oil prices weighed on the market. The Korean won fell against the US dollar. The benchmark KOSPI fell 6.96 points, or 0.34 percent, to close at 2,047.11. Trade volume was moderate at 355 million shares worth 3.6 trillion won (US$3.20 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 483 to 329.Investors also resisted making big moves after losses on Wall Street, and ahead of the first US presidential debate, where Democrat Hillary

[THE INVESTOR] South Korea’s Boryung Pharmaceutical has signed a contract with Mexican firm Stendhal International to supply medicine for treating hypertension in South America, the firm said on Sept. 26. The agreement is worth 30 billion won (US$27.1 million) -- which is 7.48 percent of the firm’s revenue in 2015. Boryung plans to gradually release more products in South America by 2024 via its partnership with Stendhal. The Korean firm has been seeking to expand into more markets for its oral

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares traded lower late morning on Sept. 26, amid a drop in global oil prices. The benchmark KOSPI shed 5.97 points, or 0.29 percent, to 2,048.10 as of 11:20 a.m.Large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics adding 0.13 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix down 0.76 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Motor fell 1.41 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors traded 2.46 percent lower.POSCO, the No.1 steelmaker, declined 0.88 percent.Naver, the oper

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened lower on Sept. 26, on investors’ decision to cash in part of recent gains.The benchmark KOSPI fell 3.21 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,050.86 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Most large caps traded lower with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 0.19 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Motor declined 0.7 percent and top steelmaker POSCO slipped 1.1 percent.The local currency was trading at 1,103.60 won against the US dollar, down 1.2 won from the previo

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks traded slightly higher late morning on Sept. 23, extending gains through six consecutive sessions, as the US Federal Reserve has decided to freeze its key rate. The benchmark KOSPI gained 3.57 points, or 0.17 percent, to 2,053.27 as of 11:20 a.m.The Fed on Sept. 21 maintained its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent.Large-cap stocks traded mixed across the board.Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.67 percent

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks started slightly higher on Sept. 23, as the US Federal Reserve froze interest rates as expected, analysts said.The benchmark KOSPI gained 0.88 point, or 0.04 percent, to 2,050.58 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Large-cap stocks were mixed across the board. Samsung Electronics shed 2.41 percent, while top automaker Hyundai Motor was up 1.09 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors gained 0.23 percent.The local currency was trading at 1,105 won against the

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares ended higher on Sept. 22, on the US Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain its key rate. The local currency rose against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI gained 13.71 points, or 0.67 percent, to 2,049.70.“The Fed’s decision gave a sense of relief to investors,” said Lee Kyung-min, an analyst at Daishin Securities, as the news has lifted weeks of concerns over a possible rate hike in the market.The Fed has maintained its target range for the federal funds rate

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks turned higher late morning on Sept. 22, on US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep its key rate unchanged.The benchmark KOSPI gained 19.19 points, or 0.94 percent, to 2,055.18 as of 11:15 a.m.The index tracked overnight gains on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.90 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index climbing 1.03 percent.The Fed on Sept. 21 maintained its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 0.25 percent to 0.5

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened higher on Sept. 22, on the US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep its key rate unchanged.The benchmark KOSPI earned 13.87 points, or 0.68 percent, to 2,049.86 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The index tracked overnight gains on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.90 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index climbing 1.03 percent.The Fed on Sept. 21 maintained its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 0.25 perce

[DISCLOSURE] Lightron (069540) said on Sept. 21 that its largest shareholder Dawons has signed a stock pledge agreement with Gongpyung Savings Bank to offer its entire 375,573 shares as collateral for a 1.9 billion won (US$1.7 million) loan. The agreement has given Lightron the right to change its largest shareholder. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks ended higher on Sept. 21, on the Japanese central bank’s decision to freeze its key rate. The local currency rose against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI climbed 10.28 points, or 0.51 percent, to 2,035.99.The Bank of Japan kept its key rate unchanged at minus 0.1 percent.“The BOJ’s decision pushed up the benchmark index as investors were relieved from the bank’s decision to keep its key rate unchanged,” said Kim Ye-eun, an analyst at LIG Investment & Securiti

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks turned higher late morning on Sept. 21, tracking gains on Wall Street.The benchmark KOSPI gained 1.36 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,027.07 as of 11:15 a.m.The rise followed overnight gains on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.05 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index climbing 0.12 percent.Analysts said investors remain cautious ahead of a rate decision by the Bank of Japan later in the day, and results of the US Federal Open Mark

[DISCLOSURE] Tego Science (191420) said on Sept. 21 that it has obtained a patent in Europe for transferring technology for stem cells in vivo.The technology will be applied to developing skin and cartilage treatments based on regeneration of tissues. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened lower on Sept. 21, as investors remain cautious ahead of a US rate decision.The benchmark KOSPI lost 1.44 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,024.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The broad index bucked overnight gains on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.05 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index climbing 0.12 percent.Analysts said the local stock market could remain volatile until investors find the results of the US Federa

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares ended higher on Sept. 20 helped by increased buying by foreigners. The local currency fell against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI gained 9.93 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,025.71.The broad index bucked overnight losses on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.02 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index declining 0.18 percent.Analysts said investors took a wait-and-see attitude ahead of a US Federal Open Market Committee meeting due

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares turned higher late morning on Sept. 20, on increased foreign buying.The benchmark KOSPI gained 0.27 points, or 0.01 percent, to 2,016.05 as of 11:20 a.m.The broad index bucked overnight losses on Wall Street. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.02 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index declining 0.18 percent.Analysts said the local stock market is likely to remain volatile until investors find the results of the US Federal Open Market Committee

[DISCLOSURE] Industrial Bank of Korea (024110) said on Sept. 20 that it has decided to issue perpetual contingent convertible bonds worth 300 billion won (US$271 million). IBK will have a call option regarding advanced redemption after 5 and 10 years, respectively. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean shares opened lower on Sept. 20, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street.The benchmark KOSPI lost 4.25 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,011.53 in the first 15 minutes of trading.The decline followed overnight losses on Wall Street.The Dow Jones industrial average lost 0.02 percent, with the tech-heavy NASDAQ composite index declining 0.18 percent.Analysts said the local stock market is likely to remain volatile until investors find the results of the US Federal Open Ma

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares ended higher on Sept. 19, helped by increased buying by foreigners. The local currency climbed against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI gained 16.42 points, or 0.82 percent, to 2,015.78.Investors will closely watch the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s discussion on monetary policy in September, which will be released later this week.Kim Ye-eun, an analyst at LIG Investment & Securities, said local stocks rose as foreigners increased their purchas

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean stocks extended gains late morning on Sept. 19, helped by eased worries about a possible US rate hike.The benchmark KOSPI gained 11.92 points, or 0.60 percent, to 2,011.28 as of 11:15 a.m.The main index continued to gain after marking a 0.4 percent increase for the whole of last week. On Sept. 13, it closed at 1,999.36. The local bourse closed from Sept. 14 due to Chuseok.Investors will closely watch the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s discussion of mo