South Korean stocks fell 0.81 percent Thursday as investors took profits from a two-day rally in the previous sessions, analysts said. The local currency lost ground against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 16.34 points to finish at 2,004.40. Trading volume was moderate at 382.2 million shares worth 3.63 trillion won (US$3.35billion) with decliners far outstripping gainers 511 to 287.   "Foreigners opted to unload their holdings in top-cap Samsun

The U.N. Security Council is set to add three North Korean weapons dealers and two entities to its new resolution to punish the North for conducting its third nuclear test last month, according to a copy of a draft resolution obtained by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday. The three North Korean arms dealers are: Yon Chong-nam, the chief representative for the Korea Mining Developing Trading Corp (KOMID); Ko Chol-chae, the deputy chief representative for the KOMID; and Mun Chong-chol, an official at

South Korean stocks traded 0.79 percent lower late Thursday morning on widening losses in shares of tech companies and shipbuilders, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slid15.92 percent to 2,004.82 as of 11:20 a.m. STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, the country's fourth-largest shipyard, slumped more than 3 percent, with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, an affiliate of the world's No. 1 shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries, dipping 1.7 percent. Top-cap Samsung Electronics als

South Korean stocks got off to a weak start Thursday, erasing a two-day rally in the previous sessions, as blue-chip tech firms lost ground, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell5.61 points, or 0.28 percent, to 2,015.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Market behemoth Samsung Electronics shed nearly 1 percent, with its smaller rival LG Electronics declining 0.4 percent. State-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power also dipped 0.6 percent. The local

South Korean stocks rose 0.2 percent on Wednesday, tracking an overnight rally in U.S. markets spurred by heightening anticipation over an economic recovery, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added4.13 points to finish at 2,020.74. Trading volume was moderate at391.4 million shares worth 4.03 trillion won (US$3.71 billion) with advancers outpacing decliners 414 to 381. "Despite the U.S. rally, the local bours

South Korean stocks traded 0.26 percent higher late Wednesday morning, led by gains in financial firms and shipbuilders, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 5.20 points to 2,021.81 as of 11:20 a.m.No. 2 lender KB Financial Group rose 1.8 percent, with Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's largest shipyard, jumping more than 3 percent. In contrast, auto-related shares trended lower. Kia Motors, a Hyundai Motor affiliate, slid 2 percent, with Hyundai's auto

South Korean stocks started off sharply higher Wednesday on an overnight Wall Street rally fueled by heightening anticipations of economic recovery, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) soared15.84 points, or 0.79 percent to 2,032.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Shares moved upward across the board, with tech blue-chips and brokerage houses fueling the main index. Top-cap tech giant Samsung Electronics rose 1.23 percent and leading brokerage firm KDB Daew

Cristiano Ronaldo sent Real Madrid into the Champions League quarterfinals at the expense of his former club Manchester United by hitting his 40th goal of the season to clinch a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.The forward completed Madrid‘s comeback in the 69th minute to secure a 3-2 aggregate win after the Spanish champions took advantage of United being reduced to 10 men.“(United) were very aggressive, they were very well organized tactically and the match was very difficult for us,” Madrid manager Jos

중국의 일부 지방 정부가 잔디를 푸르게 보이려고 인공 녹색 페인트를 뿌리고 있다고 매체들이 보도했다.보도에 따르면 중국 남서부 청두 시(市)의 공무원들이 시내 길가에 시들어버린 잔디 위에 녹색 페인트를 뿌리는 모습이 현지 언론을 통해 드러났다.이들이 뿌리고 있는 페인트는 현지 염료 업체가 만든 ‘탑 그린 터프 그리닝 에이전트 (Top Green Turf Greening Agent)’라는 염료를 사용한 것이다.조경을 관리하는 부처는 인공 페인트를 뿌리는 것에 대해서는 언급하지 않았지만 화학 물질은 잔디가 추운 겨울을 날 수 있게 영양분을 포함하고 있다고 밝혔다.탑 그린 관계자들에 따르면 이 염료는 ‘무독성’이고 어떠한 영양분도 포함하지 않는다.“탑 그린 판매원 미스터 양은 “우리는 적어도 5~6년간 청두 시 정부에 그 염료를 납품해 왔으며, 톈진 시(市)나 여러 북서 성(省) 지방 정부도 우리 고객”이라고 말했다.중국의 풍경이 인공적으로 미화시킨 것은 이번이 처음이 아니다. 산도 멀리

South Korean stocks traded 0.54 percent higher late Tuesday morning, led by gains in large-cap tech and utility firms, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 10.93 points to 2,024.08 as of 11:20 a.m.Chipmaker SK hynix surged 3.5 percent, with state-run electricity provider Korea Electric Power Corp. jumping 2.2 percent. In contrast, steelmakers and oil refiners lapsed into negative territory, with No. 1 player POSCO sliding 0.7 percent and leading oil ref

South Korean stocks got off to a strong start Tuesday, cheered by remarks from a U.S. Federal Reserve official supporting the bond-buying program amid speculations the Fed may put an end to it, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained12.22 points, or 0.61 percent to 2,025.37 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Most shares trended upward, with large-cap exporters fueling the main index. Market behemoth Samsung Electronics rose 1.2 percent, with No. 1 carmaker

South Korean stocks closed 0.66 percent lower Monday, led by institutional profit-taking, while investors remained relatively calm toward the U.S. spending cuts, analysts said. The local currency fell sharply against the U.S.dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 13.34 points to finish at 2,028.55. Trading volume was moderate at 352.4 million shares worth 4.28 trillion won (US$3.95 billion) with losers outstripping gainers 482 to 310. "Investors shrugged off th

South Korean stocks traded 0.24 percent lower late Monday morning, led by losses in steelmakers and chemical companies, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 4.92 points to 2,021.57 as of 11:20 a.m. Leading steelmaker POSCO sank nearly 3 percent, with smaller player Hyundai Steel also dropping 2.4 percent. Chemical issues trended downward, with LG Chem dipping more than 2 percent. In contrast, autos gathered ground. Hyundai Motor was up 1.2 percent and Ssang

South Korean stocks turned lower after a strong start, as investors remained concerned over the automatic spending cuts in the United States, analysts said. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slipped1.47 points, or 0.07 percent to trade at 2,025.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Steelmakers and shipping lines lost ground, with No. 1 player POSCO falling 1.7 percent and logistics company Hyundai Glovis retreating 1.6 percent. Top-cap Samsung Electronics, however, gained

South Korean stocks closed 1.12 percent higher on Thursday, spurred by the U.S. Fed's confirmation of its plan to maintain stimulus measures, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged22.45 points to 2,026.49. Trading volume was moderate at 414.3 million shares worth 4.09 trillion won (US$3.77 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 565 to 235."The anticipated automatic spending cuts by the United States had only

South Korean stocks traded 0.81 percent higher late Thursday morning fueled by gains in blue chip exporters, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) climbed 16.28 points to 2,020.32 as of 11:20 a.m.Blue chip exporters led the gain, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics advancing 1.31 percent and top chipmaker SK hynix adding 1.52 percent.Carmakers also gathered ground, with No. 1 player Hyundai Motor increasing 0.7 percent and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors cli

South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains spurred by the U.S.Fed's confirmation of its plan to maintain stimulus measures, analysts said.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) increased 14.59 points, or 0.73 percent, to 2,018.63 in the first 15 minutes of trading.Shares gathered ground across the board, with market behemoth Samsung Electronics adding 1.05 percent and top steelmaker POSCO gaining 0.28 percent. No. 1 carmaker Hyundai Motor mo

Defending South Korean football champion FC Seoul enjoyed a dominant victory, while three other South Korean teams were each held to a draw at the top Asian club football competition this week.The 2013 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League kicked off with four K League Classic clubs in group stage action.FC Seoul, the 2012 K League Classic champ, trounced Jiangsu Sainty of China 5-1 in their Group E clash in Seoul on Tuesday, but three other K League Classic sides, Jeonbuk Hyundai

South Korean stocks closed 0.2 percent higher on Wednesday on the back of the U.S. Federal Reserve's reassurance that it would maintain its stimulus measures, analysts said. The local currency gained against the U.S. dollar.The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 4.03 points to 2,004.04. Trading volume was moderate at 409.1 million shares worth 3.46 trillion won (US$3.18 billion) with gainers outpacing losers 460 to 344."Local shares traded almost flat due to the rising

A center-left group of parties appears to have the best shot at forming a coalition government in Italy after an inconclusive national election, but the challenge is steep and comes amid public anger over austerity measures. If Italian parties fail to form a governing coalition, new elections would be required, causing more uncertainty and a leadership vacuum, and that possibility has rattled financial markets across Europe. Pier Luigi Bersani and his center-left allies appeared on Tuesday to ha