More Apple financial services unlikely to be available in Korea soon: BOK

Despite the recent launch of Apple Pay in Korea, it is unlikely that other financial services offered by the US tech giant will be available in Korea soon due to legal issues, the Bank of Korea projected. Apple kicked off its mobile payment service, Apple Pay, in Korea with partner Hyundai Card in March. Yet, its other financial services such as Apple Card, Apple Cash and Apple Pay Later are currently available only in the US. The firm’s plan to launch financial services other than Apple P

May 9, 2023

FSS chief promotes K-finance in Southeast Asia

Lee Bok-hyun, chief of the Financial Supervisory Service, is heading to Southeast Asia this week to promote the globalization of South Korea’s financial markets and attract global investors, the financial watchdog said Tuesday. The FSS chief, accompanied by representatives from Korean financial companies, was scheduled to visit Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia and hold investor relations events there. Lee’s visit began with a trip to Thailand on Monday, where he met with Sethaput

May 9, 2023

Seoul shares open lower ahead of US inflation data

South Korean stocks opened a tad lower Tuesday as Wall Street ended mixed ahead of key US inflation data. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slipped 5.59 points, or 0.22 percent, to 2,507.62 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 0.17 percent and the Nasdaq Composite added 0.18 percent as investors awaited consumer price data slated for Wednesday, which is expected to affect the Federal Reserve's next steps. In Seoul, ma

May 9, 2023

Seoul shares end higher amid rate hike woes

Seoul shares ended higher Monday, following US stocks' rally last week, with investors staying cautious about the Federal Reserve's further rate hikes to tame inflation. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index went up 12.27 points, or 0.49 percent, to 2,513.21. Trading volume was moderate at 645.61 million shares worth 9.06 trillion won ($6.8 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 571 to 301. Institutions and foreigners bought a

May 8, 2023

10 special industrial zones to be designated to spur innovation

South Korea announced a plan Monday to create a total of 10 special industrial zones by 2027, as regional vanguards to spur job creation and investment. The zones will run under the government’s deregulation scheme. The government hopes businesses operating there will focus on launching new products and making inroads in to overseas markets. Measures that match global standards, from regulation, certification to insurance, will be applied, the government said. Korea will first upgrade two

May 8, 2023

Jeonbuk Bank expands money transfer services in Cambodia

JB Financial Group’s Jeonbuk Bank said Monday it will add 17 more banks to the list of financial institutions in Cambodia that accept real-time money transfers made through the Korean bank. This newest addition brings the total number of such institutions to 49, providing expanded opportunities for customers to make transfers to various banks. “We hope that our unique overseas real-time transfer service will be helpful to our customers who want to make transfers to Cambodia,” J

May 8, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on US gains amid rate hike worries

Seoul shares opened higher Monday, tracking gains on Wall Street last week, with investors staying concerned over the US Federal Reserve's further rate hikes to tame inflation. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 20.83 points, or 0.83 percent, to 2,521.77 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The main index stayed nearly unchanged last week, closing 0.02 lower at 2,500.94 on Thursday. The stock market was closed Friday to celebrate Children's Day. On Wednesday, Fed Chair

May 8, 2023

Seoul shares almost flat amid Fed uncertainties; Korean won sharply up

South Korean stocks closed almost flat Thursday, after the US Federal Reserve spurned the possibility of an imminent end to the rate hike cycle and ruled out that a rate cut is unlikely to happen anytime soon. The local currency gained sharply against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 0.46 points, or 0.02 percent, to 2,500.94. Trading volume was moderate at 797.8 million shares worth 9.85 trillion won ($7.43 billion), with decliners slightly outnumbering gainers

May 4, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on Fed uncertainties

South Korean stocks opened marginally lower Thursday after the US Federal Reserve threw cold water on market expectations that the rate hike cycle is soon nearing an end, ruling out the possibility of a rate cut this year. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slipped 3.42 points, or 0.14 percent, to 2,497.98 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said after its policy meeting that it's too soon to say the rate hike cycle is over as the Fed believes the inflat

May 4, 2023

Seoul shares snap 3-day rise on renewed bank woes

South Korean stocks snapped a three-day winning streak on Wednesday as uncertainties surrounding the US banking crisis reignited recession fears ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting this week. The local currency edged up against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index retreated 22.99 points, or 0.91 percent, to close at 2,501.40. Trading volume was moderate at 877.4 million shares worth 9.72 trillion won ($7.26 billion) with decliners outnumbering gainers 524

May 3, 2023

Seoul shares open lower on renewed banking woes

South Korean stocks opened lower Wednesday on renewed fears over the US banking crisis following the auction of a US regional bank ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy meeting this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index slid 13.66 points, or 0.54 percent, to 2,510.73 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Wall Street ended the session down overnight as uncertainties arose over the financial system following the sale of the First Republic Bank to JPMorgan Chase & Co., led by

May 3, 2023

Prioritizing customer-centric digital finance innovation

Morphing into a customer-centered financial platform company through open digital innovation, fostering digital talent and strengthening technological capabilities is one of the key strategies Hana Financial Group pushes forward. Based on big data, the banking group is developing products and services tailored to customer groups while converting offline branches into financial platforms where customers can satisfy their needs through human touch. The digital channel plays the role of an all-in-o

May 2, 2023

Seoul shares up for 3rd day ahead of Fed meeting

South Korean stocks closed higher Tuesday to extend their winning streak to a third day ahead of the US Federal Reserve's policy meeting later this week. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index gained 22.86 points, or 0.91 percent, to finish at 2,524.39. Trading volume was moderate at 691.3 million shares worth 9.79 trillion won ($7.3 billion), with gainers outnumbering decliners 638 to 248. Foreigners bought a net 341.8 billion won of

May 2, 2023

Hana Financial eyes M&As in bid to become global finance giant

Hana Financial Group plans to step up its globalization efforts to become a globally leading finance firm with customized strategies suited to each market with its business spanning from banking to securities brokerage services. As of the end of 2022, Hana Financial Group had expanded across 25 countries, with more than 4,500 employees overseas. According to the group, its global profit has been increasing every year by an average of 15 percent over the past four years. In 2022, the group&rs

May 2, 2023

Seoul shares open higher ahead of Fed meeting

South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, as investors await to see a widely expected interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve in the policy meeting later this week. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index rose 17.57 points, or 0.7 percent, to trade at 2,519.10 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The Fed is expected to raise the interest rate by another 0.25 percentage point at the end of the Federal Open Market Committee on Wednesday in what will be the latest move in its aggressiv

May 2, 2023

Probe in full swing into W8tr stock market wipeout

The authorities are scrambling to respond to what could be one of the largest stock price manipulation cases in recent years. The authorities, including the Financial Supervisory Services, are investigating deals involving the stocks of eight companies, the combined market capitalization of which fell around 8 trillion won this week. The shares of the companies -- Samchully, Daesung Holdings, Seoul Gas, Sebang, Sun Kwang and Daou Data – began dropping abruptly earlier this week without a

April 28, 2023

Seoul shares rise for 2nd day on chips, platform gains

South Korean stocks ended higher Friday as chips and platform shares gathered ground on expectations for a better outlook despite recession woes. The local currency rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 5.72 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 2,501.53, extending the winning streak to a second session. Trading volume was moderate at 762.56 million shares worth 13.64 trillion won ($10.18 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 448 to 423. The index

April 28, 2023

Seoul shares open higher on tech, auto gains

South Korean stocks opened higher Friday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, as major chipmakers and platform operators gathered ground on hope of a better outlook. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 6.72 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,502.53 in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, US shares ended higher as Meta Platforms' upbeat quarterly earnings report boosted tech shares. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.57 percent, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composi

April 28, 2023

Kakao Pay to acquire controlling stake in US brokerage firm Siebert

Kakao Pay Corp., the fintech unit of South Korean tech giant Kakao, said Thursday it plans to acquire a controlling stake in Siebert Financial Corp., a US brokerage firm, as part of efforts to expand its financial business abroad. Kakao Pay said in a regulatory filing it has signed a deal to purchase Siebert's new shares worth $17 million. The deal, set to be completed on May 4, will allow Kakao to secure a 19.9 percent stake in the New York-based firm. After winning approval from shareho

April 27, 2023

Seoul shares end 5-day losing run on big-cap tech gains

South Korean stocks ended higher Thursday after a five-session losing streak as investors picked up tech bargains despite concerns about the global banking sector instability and an economic recession. The local currency fell against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index added 10.98 points, or 0.44 percent, to close at 2,495.81. Trading volume was moderate at 722.69 million shares worth 10.97 trillion won ($8.19 billion), with decliners outpacing gainers 465 to 405. Reta

April 27, 2023