MBK chief questioned again in Homeplus securities probe

Prosecutors questioned MBK Partners Chairman Michael Byung-ju Kim as a suspect Thursday over allegations that executives had advance knowledge of a possible Homeplus credit rating downgrade while Homeplus-linked short-term financing continued ahead of the retailer’s filing for court-led rehabilitation. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office’s Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 summoned Kim on suspicion of aggravated economic fraud and violations of the Capital Markets Act, accordin

2026-09-11 11:17:51:00

Korea Investment deepens global push with Fidelity, Pimco, Carlyle

Korea Investment & Securities, a subsidiary of Korea Investment Holdings, has entered into a series of strategic partnerships with leading global asset managers, including Fidelity, Pimco and Carlyle, expanding its portfolio across research, equity, fixed income and alternative investments, the firm announced Thursday. The company said the partnerships are significant in that its long-standing global business strategy has taken concrete shape through closer collaboration with some of the world's

2026-09-10 15:00:32:00

Blackstone buys majority stake in Seoul-area logistics park

Blackstone, the world's largest alternative asset manager, has acquired a majority stake in a logistics development in Greater Seoul, which includes Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, in partnership with Singapore-based real estate manager ESR, seeking to capitalize on continued growth of South Korea's logistics market, the asset manager said Thursday. Funds managed by Blackstone Real Estate Partners invested with a majority interest in Sanha Logistics Park II, a prime dry-storage logistics developm

2026-09-10 15:00:19:00

‘Slow and steady’ will win Korea’s race for global capital

South Korea’s capital market needs consistent reforms, greater stability and broader sources of growth to attract global investors for the long term, market experts said at The Korea Herald’s HIT Forum in Seoul on Tuesday. Held under the theme “What Will Make Global Capital Stay?” the panel brought together Alexander Treves, managing director at JPMorgan Asset Management; Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity strategy at Societe Generale; Park Jeong-woo, Nomura’s senior economist for Korea and Tai

2026-09-09 15:54:45:00

Won’s comeback comes at a cost

The South Korean won’s rapid rebound to its strongest level in nearly two years is proving a double-edged sword: easing import costs while threatening the earnings of the semiconductor giants powering the country’s growth. The won strengthened to 1,334.7 per dollar in onshore Seoul trading Monday, its strongest level since Oct. 4, 2024. It has gained more than 200 won against the dollar in just over two months after weakening to 1,599.2 on July 1. The currency was trading at 1,346.08 per dollar

2026-09-07 15:11:19:00

Capital Group lifts Shinhan above 5%, cuts KB stake

US investment giant Capital Group has returned as a major shareholder in Shinhan Financial Group, lifting its stake above 5 percent as the Korean banking group steps up shareholder returns. According to a regulatory filing Wednesday, Capital Research and Management Company, a Capital Group affiliate, held 23.57 million shares in Shinhan Financial, which translates to a 5.02 percent stake. The holding makes the manager the third-largest shareholder in Shinhan Financial, behind the National Pensio

2026-09-03 15:09:04:00

Korean investors trading US leveraged ETFs 'blind'

South Korean retail investors are trading some popular US leveraged securities without access to real-time quotes during daytime hours, after Blue Ocean ATS suspended trading in 18 securities to comply with US Securities and Exchange Commission rules. The suspension took effect with Monday’s 8 p.m. ET session, Blue Ocean ATS said. Most of the affected securities are leveraged or inverse products, including the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares, known as SOXL, and the Direxion Daily MSC

2026-09-02 15:04:08:00

KRX chief courts CalPERS for bigger bet on Korea

Korea Exchange Chairman and CEO Jeong Eun-bo held talks with California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, to promote greater investment in South Korea's capital markets, the bourse operator announced Wednesday. Jeong met with CalPERS Chief Investment Officer Stephen Gilmore. CalPERS is the largest public pension fund in the US, managing roughly $637.1 billion in assets as of June 30. During the meeting, Jeong highlighted the progress made in capital market reforms led by the gover

2026-09-02 11:42:22:00

Korea's market rally must go beyond chips: Societe Generale

South Korea’s artificial intelligence rally must expand beyond Samsung Electronics and SK hynix if the country is to achieve broader and more sustainable stock market growth, according to Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity strategy at Societe Generale. The two chipmakers now account for more than 48 percent of the Kospi’s roughly 5,610 trillion won ($4.1 billion) market capitalization and two-thirds of the combined first-half net profit of all Kospi-listed companies. “Today, the Korean market r

2026-09-01 14:48:33:00

Posco, Doosan join IMM-led bet on Japanese fusion startup

IMM Investment Japan has led a Series D funding round for fusion energy startup Kyoto Fusioneering, backed by Korean industrial heavyweights. The investment was made through the Korea-Japan Fusion Fund, a cross-border vehicle established to connect Korean capital and industrial networks with Japanese deep-tech companies, IMM Investment said Tuesday. Strategic investors in the fund include Posco Holdings, Posco International, Doosan, Hyundai Motor and GS E&C. Octagon Venture Partners participated

2026-09-01 14:48:26:00