Citigroup Inc. recommended stocks in Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong as manufacturing companies gain in an inflationary environment amid global economic growth.“Higher inflation and higher rates benefit growth- sensitive markets, such as Korea and Taiwan and general asset plays like Hong Kong,” according to a report by Citigroup analysts led by Markus Rosgen. “Inflation shifts profits from consumption

Gmarket face 16.9 billion won in back taxes on underreported revenueOnline retailers are concerned about possible taxation on their discount sales after state auditors last week ordered Gmarket to pay 16.9 billion won ($15.12 million) in back taxes on underreported revenue. The Board of Audit and Inspection judged on Thursday that the top online marketplace operator evaded value added taxes by exc

Hyundai Motors Co. will shuffle production of two models between its Czech factory and a plant operated in neighboring Slovakia by the carmaker’s affiliate, Kia Motors Corp.The factory near Zilina, Northern Slovakia, will take over production of Kia Venga compact cars, which are currently assembled in the Czech Republic, according to Dusan Dvorak, spokesman for the unit. Similarly, production of H

Korea’s financial regulator is considering loosening regulations over private equity funds, a move that may open the gates to local hedge funds. The country’s tight limits on short-selling leverage rates and types of assets allowed for investment have constrained local funds’ growth and investment targets.“The Financial Services Commission is seeking to revise the capital market law by the end of

Korean stocks ended 0.43 percent lower on Thursday on profit-taking and worries over China’s further monetary tightening, analysts said. The local currency dropped against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 9.03 percent to 2,106.66, retreating from an all-time high of 2,115.69 a day earlier. Trading volume was moderate at 328.8 million shares worth 6.4

Liquidity provided by Korean financial firms reached almost 2,000 trillion won ($1.79 trillion) in November, central bank data showed Thursday, adding to growing risks of higher inflation.The country’s liquidity provided by local depository agencies totaled 1,982 trillion won in November, up 7.7 percent from the previous year, according to data from the Bank of Korea. To fight the global financial

Korea will beef up cooperation with Egypt in oil, nuclear power plants and many other areas as part of efforts to enhance its economic ties with the fast-growing African country, Seoul’s top economic policymaker said Thursday.The remarks were made by Finance Minister Yoon Jeung-hyun in his meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Boutros Ghali in Cairo.The visit is part of his first overseas tour, wh

Korea’s technology level in 95 key areas is 5.4 years behind that of the United States, a government report showed Thursday.The report by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology showed the country‘s technological prowess standing at 60.2 percent of so-called ultimate technology, or the highest possible technological level that can be reached at present with 100 percent being the highest

Pork and beef imports by Korea, the sixth-biggest buyer of U.S. pork in 2009, may climb this year as the nation culls swine and cattle to fight its worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, an industry group said. Pork imports may jump 15 percent to 20 percent from about 179,500 metric tons in 2010, said Choi Jong Sun, chairman of the Korea Meat Import Association. Beef purchases may also gain as

Korea unit chief says emerging markets will drive growth in demandEtihad Airways, a national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is confident that the growth of the middle class in emerging markets and booming industrial projects in the Middle East will lure more travelers to the region.As one of the fastest-growing international carriers,the airline has expanded services to 66 destinations acros

GS Caltex Co., Korea‘s second-largest refiner, said Monday that it had shut down all of its crude distillation units and its No.1 residue fluid catalytic cracker in the southern part of the country due to power failure. Power at the Yeosu complex was cut off at 4:10 p.m. local time and resumed 23 minutes later, according to the official“The affected facilities could not restart within today, thoug

Korea’s civil servants have been ordered to do their public duty by switching off the heating and donning long johns as the severe cold puts a strain on power resources, officials said Monday. In an emergency energy savings plan, all ministries and state-run companies have been told to turn off the heating from 11:00 am to noon and 5:00-6:00 pm, the Knowledge Economy Ministry said. Government buil

Banking regulators across the globe need to introduce marco-prudential measures, including a bank levy, in a bid to enhance soundness of the economy and the financial system, an expert said Monday.“New bank capital rules called BASEL III can be considered an outcome from an agreement on micro-prudential measures. But there has been not enough agreement on macro-prudential tools so as to enhance th

Korea’s trade surplus reached a record high last year, aided by robust exports of semiconductors, ships and other key products, the customs office said.The country’s trade surplus reached a revised $41.2 billion in 2010, down from an earlier estimate of $41.7 billion, according to the Korea Customs Service. But the 2010 reading still marked the largest trade surplus, exceeding the previous record

Korean companies’ direct financing shrank 10.4 percent in December from a month earlier due to a drop in corporate bond sales, the financial regulator said Monday.Local firms raised a total of 9.4 trillion won ($8.4 billion) through sales of stocks and bonds last month, compared with 10.5 trillion won in November, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said in a report. The decline came due to co

The Korean currency gained 2.6 percent against the U.S. dollar last year amid robust exports and continued capital inflows, the central bank said Monday.The won’s gain was the smallest last year among major Asian currencies excluding the Hong Kong dollar, which lost 0.2 percent against the greenback, according to the Bank of Korea. Hong Kong has pegged its currency to the greenback.Among major Asi

DETROIT (AFP) ― Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia made a strong showing at this year’s Detroit auto show, turning heads with new models and vowing to build on last year’s gains.Both Kia and Hyundai ― which share manufacturing and engineering facilities but sell their vehicles separately in the U.S.― are looking for more growth this year after setting sales records in 2010, with Hyundai having fini

Korean Air said Monday it would take delivery of five Airbus A380 superjumbos this year, with the first flight scheduled for June.The Korean flag carrier said the A380 service between Incheon International Airport and Tokyo’s Narita would start on the morning of June 1, with the plane departing for Hong Kong once it returns from Narita.It said in a statement the service would be expanded to Bangko

Commercial banks are raising interest rates on their loans following the increase of the benchmark rate last week, heightening the financial burden on households and small firms. The Bank of Korea unexpectedly raised the seven-day repurchase rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, as Korea grapples with higher inflation stemming from strong economic growth and rising oil, grain and other commodity pr

Hyundai Motor Co., Korea’s top automaker, unveiled Thursday the long-awaited new version of its upper-end passenger vehicle, the Grandeur.The fifth-generation Grandeur, sold as the Azera in overseas markets including the United States, is the first version out in nearly five years since May 2005.“We are confident the new Grandeur will add to the class and pride of its customers as it comes with a