[DISCLOSURE] Kolmar Korea (161890) said on Sept. 19 that it has established a special purpose company to acquire a US-based cosmetics manufacturer for 17 billion won (US$15.2 million).Kolmar Korea owns 100 percent of the SPC called Seokoh and has issued 15,300,000 shares. The Korean cosmetics company added that it plans to acquire 51 percent of US-based Process Technologies and Packaging. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares opened higher on Sept. 19, on eased worries over a rate hike in the United States.The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.30 points, or 0.07 percent, to 2,000.66 in the first 15 minutes of trading.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 was closed starting Sept. 14 due to Chuseok.Investors will closely watch the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee’s discus

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks ended with gains on Sept. 13, snapping a two-day losing streak, on the back of eased worries about a possible US rate hike and rebound in the shares Samsung Electronics, analysts said. The local currency fell against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI climbed 7.88 points, or 0.4 percent, to 1,999.36. Trade volume came to 432.41 million shares worth 5.07 trillion won (US$4.52 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 485 to 325.The KOSPI’s advance came after dec

[DISCLOSURE] Korea Gas (036460) reported on Sept. 13 that its sales of natural gas in August increased 5.6 percent to 2,197,000 tons, on-year.Sales of city gas declined 1.5 percent to 805,000 tons while sales for power generators rose 10.4 percent to 1,392,000 tons. By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks extended gains late morning on Sept. 13 on the back of eased worries about a possible US rate hike and rebound in the shares of market kingpin Samsung Electronics, analysts said.The benchmark KOSPI gained 8.49 points, or 0.43 percent, to 1,999.97 as of 11:20 a.m.Samsung Electronics jumped 5.05 percent following big losses in the previous session.SK Innovation, the nation’s largest refiner, also increased 1.90 percent.Auto shares were mixed, with leading automak

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened higher on Sept. 13, on reduced chances for a US rate hike.The benchmark KOSPI rose 16.56 points, or 0.83 percent, to 2,008.04 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Market leader Samsung Electronics added 4.23 percent after shedding a day earlier.Top automaker Hyundai Motor stayed flat while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors shed 0.11 percent. A voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee hinted earlier in the day that it would be wise to keep monetary

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares sank 2.28 percent on Sept. 12, to hit an almost three-month low, as investors were spooked by continued setbacks in the global market and growing geopolitical tensions following North Korea’s nuclear test. The local currency fell sharply against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI dropped 46.39 points to 1,991.48. Trading volume was moderate at 41.87 million shares, worth 4.75 trillion won (US$4.26 billion). Losers outnumbered gainers 635 to 185.It marks the bigg

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares traded 1.82 percent lower late morning on Sept. 12, as investors dumped large-cap shares, spooked by heightened economic woes and growing geopolitical risk following North Korea’s nuclear test.The benchmark KOSPI dipped 39.19 points to 1,998.68 as of 11:20 a.m.Key events are ahead this week with possible US rate hike at the Federal Open Market Committee meeting. North Korea ramped up regional tensions last week by conducting its fifth nuclear test in defiance o

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares got off to a weak start on Sept. 12 as investors dumped blue chips on heightened worries over the global economy and other issues, analysts said. The benchmark KOSPI dropped 32.45 points, or 1.59 percent, to 2,005.42 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Top market cap Samsung Electronics dipped 5.08 percent, and SK Innovation, the nation’s largest refiner, fell 2.57 percent.Auto shares also fell, with leading automaker Hyundai Motor inching down 0.36 percent, and

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks dropped more than 1 percent on Sept. 9, as investors were spooked by North Korea’s nuclear test, analysts said. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI shed 25.86 points, or 1.25 percent, to close at 2,037.87. Trade volume was moderate at 387 million shares worth 4.16 trillion won (US$3.79 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 591 to 218.South Korean stocks opened weak on overnight falls on Wall Street but extended losses following ne

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks traded sharply lower late morning on Sept. 9, as investors were spooked by the possibility of North Korea conducting a nuclear test. The Korean won fell sharply against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI dropped 25.77 points, or 1.25 percent, to 2,036.96 as of 11:20 a.m.US stocks closed lower on Sept. 8 on a slump in tech stocks, with the Dow Jones industrial average losing 0.3 percent to 18,479.91 points in the face of a dip in Apple Inc. The US electronics com

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened lower on Sept. 9 on overnight losses in Wall Street.The benchmark KOSPI shed 17.57 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,046.16 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks closed lower on Sept. 8 on a slump in tech stocks, with the Dow Jones industrial average losing 0.3 percent to 18,479.91 points in the face of a dip in Apple Inc.Apple fell some 2.5 percent as its latest iPhone 7 failed to appeal to Wall Street.Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpi

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks closed almost flat Sept. 8, as investors sought to lock in recent gains, analysts said. The Korean won fell against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.85 points, or 0.09 percent, to close at 2,063.73. Trade volume was moderate at 651 million shares worth 5.58 trillion won (US$5.11 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 526 to 277.The local stock market opened higher as recent economic data in the US reduced the chance of the US Federal Reserve beginni

[DISCLOSURE] Daewoo Engineering & Construction (047040) said on Sept. 8, that it has received an awarding letter from Ashghal, the public works authority of Qatar, for construction and upgrading of E-Ring Road in Doha, Qatar. The deal is estimated to be worth US$730 million.By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks traded lower late morning on Sept. 8, as investors attempted to cash in recent gains.The benchmark KOSPI fell 6.7 points, or 0.32 percent, to 2,055.18 as of 11:20 a.m.US stocks closed mixed on Sept. 7, with the tech-laden NASDAQ Composite reaching a new record high, while the Dow Jones industrial average edged down. Top market cap Samsung Electronics rose 0.25 percent, and major chipmaker SK hynix was up 1.45 percent.Naver, the country’s top portal operator, sh

[THE INVESTOR]  South Korean stocks opened higher on Sept. 8 on speculation that an interest rate hike in the US may be delayed.The benchmark KOSPI rose 7.4 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,069.28 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks closed mixed on Sept. 7, with the tech-laden NASDAQ Composite reaching a new record high, while the Dow Jones industrial average edged down. Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics rising 0.49 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Motor sh

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks shed 0.23 percent paring earlier gains, as investors sought to lock in recent gains, analysts said. The Korean won rose sharply against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI fell 4.65 points to close at 2,061.88. Trade volume was moderate at 678 million shares worth 4.98 trillion won (US$4.57 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 494 to 304.The local stock market opened higher as weaker than expected economic data reduced the chance of the US Federal Reserve b

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean shares advanced late morning on Sept. 7, as weaker than expected economic data in the US diminished the chance of an imminent rate hike.The benchmark KOSPI rose 6.81 points, or 0.33 percent, to 2,073.34 as of 11:20 a.m.US stocks rose slightly on Sept. 6, with the tech-laden NASDAQ Composite reaching a record high, as latest economic data cemented views that the Fed may hold off its much-awaited decision.Samsung Electronics rose 0.43 percent, and major chipmaker SK hyn

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks opened slightly higher on Sept.7, on overnight gains in Wall Street.The benchmark KOSPI rose 3.36 points, or 0.16 percent, to 2,069.89 in the first 15 minutes of trading. US stocks rose slightly on Sept. 6, with the tech-laden NASDAQ Composite reaching a record high, as economic data cemented views that the Fed may hold off its much-awaited decision.Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electronics rising 0.24 percent.Top automaker Hyundai Mo

[THE INVESTOR] South Korean stocks advanced 0.31 percent to hit this year’s new highs on Sept. 6. The Korean won fell slightly against the US dollar.The benchmark KOSPI added 6.45 points to close at 2,066.53. Trade volume was moderate at 457 million shares worth 4.03 trillion won (US$3.65 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 450 to 332.“The prospect of an imminent rate hike in the US is weakening, and the local stock market is likely to be stuck in a narrow range for the time being,” said