South Korea's main stock index swung between gains and losses late Wednesday morning as investors try to digest the policies of new President Moon Jae-in. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 2.98 points, or 0.13 percent, to 2,295.74 as of 11:20 a.m. It hit a new intra-day record of 2,323.32 points at one point, but backtracked to 2,290.08 at another point. Large caps traded mix...

South Korean shares opened higher Wednesday as political uncertainties eased with liberal former human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in beginning his five-year term as president. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 16.71 points, or 0.73 percent, to set a new intra-day high of 2,309.47 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Most large caps traded mixed with market kingpin Samsung Electr...

If history is any guide, South Korea's stock market is likely to extend its rally after voters cast their ballots to choose the country's next president. Based on market data on the bourse's performance during the first year of office of the last six presidents, market watchers expect solid gains for the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index going forward. On average local stock prices ga...

More South Koreans feel that as parents, they should financially support their children until they get a job, a survey by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education showed Tuesday. Eight years ago, more respondents believed they should support the children until they enter or graduate from college, while in the latest survey, more thought the support should be provided until the children be...

Most Ministry of Strategy and Finance officials view the economic fallout from the hosting of the controversial US missile defense system here as the most imminent economic challenge for the new president, a survey showed Tuesday. In a survey conducted by local news media eDaily on 41 high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, most picked the risk posed from the Terminal H...

A week ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day on May 2, conservative Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party climbed to the No. 2 spot in a poll for the first time ever. His spike in popularity did not go over well for the long-time first runner-up Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party in terms of his winning chances, and the stocks were fast to react. The poll was conducted by news channel YTN and was ...

South Korea’s major stock index is likely to continue setting record highs under the new president, due to strong anticipation toward the new government, robust local corporate earnings and the improving global economy, analysts said Tuesday. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index shot up to a historic high of 2,292.76 on Monday, a day before the Tuesday presidential election, mainly bu...

Transactions by South Korea's private equity firms slipped 30.4 percent on year in 2016 amid a lack of mega buyout deals, government data showed Tuesday. Local private equity groups invested a total of 8.9 trillion won ($7.8 billion) last year, compared with deals worth 12.8 trillion won in 2016, according to the data by the Financial Supervisory Service. In a statement, the financial regulator...

The International Monetary Fund kept its forecast for South Korea's economic growth for this year on hold at 2.7 percent, despite signs of a recovery in the country's exports. The projection by the IMF is slightly higher than a 2.6 percent growth forecast by the Bank of Korea. South Korea's economy grew 2.8 percent last year. In a report, the IMF cited "political uncertainty" stemming from the ...

South Korea‘s main bourse-based index reached another all-time high Monday, following abated global uncertainties after French centrist Emmanuel Macron was elected president, as well as rising expectations of the presidential transition in South Korea. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index closed at 2,292.76, up 2.3 percent, or 51.52 points, Monday, breaking the record high set in the ...

The number of South Korean recipients of "early state pension" decreased in 2016, data showed Monday, as more senior citizens opted for the regular benefit program to ensure they get a meaningful income later on in life. According to the data by the National Pension Service, the number of people receiving the early pension came to 36,614 in 2016, compared to 43,447 in 2015. The early state pens...

Revenue from direct taxes accounted for a record 55.3 percent of all dues collected last year, the Finance Ministry said Sunday. Upon the government’s reform of its tax credit rules on income and transfer taxes, the percentage of direct taxes to overall revenue earnings continued to rise for the past three years. The ministry said the tax earnings reached 230 trillion won ($202.3 billion), excl...

In the wake of continued economic uncertainty regarding US President Donald Trump, the possible abolishment of the five-year Korea-US FTA and political disputes with China, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific has predicted a “moderate” economic growth forecast for the Korean economy. “As an export oriented economy (Korea), overall economic growth in past ye...

South Korea has the highest employment rate of seniors among advanced countries due to the rapid aging and insufficient social welfare system, data said Monday. The employment rate of South Koreans aged 75 or older reached 17.9 percent in 2015, ranking first among 25 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to the data compiled by the Paris-based agency. It...

South Korea’s economic growth is not leading to local job creation, as the manufacturing sector’s contribution to employment has weakened in recent years, data showed Monday. The number of employees needed for 1 billion won ($883,000) in gross domestic product fell to a record low of 17.4 in 2016, according to data from the Bank of Korea, Statistics Korea and the Korea Labor Institute. The figu...