Mirae Asset profit eclipses 3 of Korea’s big 4 banking groups

Mirae Asset Securities’ quarterly profit eclipsed three of South Korea’s four largest banking groups, trailing only industry leader KB Financial, as investment gains and overseas growth lifted net income close to 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion). The brokerage earned 1.91 trillion won in the second quarter, surpassing Shinhan Financial’s 1.82 trillion won as well as Hana Financial and Woori Financial. Shinhan, KB, Hana and Woori make up Korea’s four dominant banking groups. Mirae Asset Securities a

2026-08-12 15:11:04:00

ETF after-hours trading faces delay over pricing risks

South Korea’s plan to introduce after-hours trading for exchange-traded funds could be delayed, as asset managers warn that gaps in pricing and liquidity infrastructure could cause ETF prices to diverge sharply from their underlying value. The Korea Exchange met asset managers and securities firms Monday to discuss whether to include ETFs in the after-hours market, financial industry sources said Tuesday. Asset managers broadly opposed the proposed launch date, arguing that the system is not rea

2026-08-11 15:34:25:00

[단독] 거래소, 운용사 긴급 소집…“ETF 애프터마켓 불참 확정인지 직접 듣겠다”

금융당국과 한국거래소가 증시 변동성 확대에 따라 ETF·ETN 애프터마켓 신청 접수를 잠정 보류한 가운데, 한국거래소가 내주 월요일 주요 자산운용사와 증권사를 긴급 소집하기로 했다. 운용사들이 실제로 애프터마켓 참여를 최종 불참했는지 재확인하고, 향후 상품 편입 시기와 보완 과제를 다시 점검하기 위한 것으로 풀이된다. 7일 금융투자업계에 따르면 한국거래소는 다음주 월요일 주요 자산운용사와 증권사 ETF·ETN 담당자를 소집해 애프터마켓 운영 방향을 논의할 예정이다. 이번 회의는 운용사들이 애프터마켓 참여 중단을 내부적으로 확정한 것인지 확인하기 위한 자리다. 참여 여부가 운용사의 자율 신청에 달린 만큼, 거래소는 업계 의견을 토대로 실제 수요 변화를 파악하고 우려 사항을 보완할 수 있는지 검토할 계획이다. 거래소 관계자는 “운용사들이 정말 내부적으로 참여하지 않기로 확정한 것인지, 현재 수요가 어떻게 변했는지 정확히 확인하고 싶다”며 “금융투자협회 간담회 등에서 참여하지 않겠다는 논

2026-08-07 17:28:16:00

KRX seeks clarity on ETF after-market participation amid industry pushback

The Korea Exchange will urgently convene officials overseeing exchange-traded funds and exchange-traded notes from major asset managers and securities firms next week to reassess demand for after-market trading, after the exchange and financial regulators put the application process on hold amid continued market volatility. According to financial industry sources Friday, the KRX will gather major asset managers and securities firms on Monday to discuss plans for operating the after-market. The m

2026-08-07 16:29:06:00

Did NPS rebalancing delay amplify Kospi volatility?

The National Pension Service rode the Kospi above 9,000 to record returns. Its decision not to rebalance aggressively during the rally, however, is now under scrutiny for potentially amplifying the market’s violent reversal. The world’s third-largest pension fund posted a 26.18 percent return through May, surpassing its previous full-year record of 18.82 percent in just five months. Assets under management jumped by more than 340 trillion won from the end of last year to a record 1,848.7 trillio

2026-08-06 15:11:27:00

Foreign banks warn Korea is rushing T+1 shift

South Korea’s plan to shorten its stock settlement cycle to T+1 is drawing warnings from global investment banks, which say the proposed eight- to nine-month preparation period is too short for an overhaul that typically requires at least 18 months. T+1 requires stock trades to be settled one business day after execution, compared with Korea’s current T+2 system. The Financial Services Commission is consulting foreign investment banks on issues including foreign exchange transactions, settlement

2026-08-05 15:31:45:00

Bithumb eyes 2028 IPO with governance overhaul

Bithumb, South Korea’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, said Tuesday it aims to go public by 2028 after strengthening its governance, internal controls and financial reporting. Under its roadmap, Bithumb plans to upgrade its internal control systems and adopt Korean International Financial Reporting Standards this year. It will seek a preliminary listing review in 2027 and target an IPO the following year. The company cautioned that the timetable could change depending on market condition

2026-08-04 15:29:42:00

Foreign high-frequency trading exposes limits of retail curbs

The Kospi remains vulnerable to sharp swings despite new deposit rules for single-stock leveraged products, as foreign high-frequency trading around Samsung Electronics and SK hynix exposes the limits of curbs focused primarily on retail investors. Trading value in the five largest single-stock leveraged products by market capitalization plunged 74 percent Friday, the first day the new rules took effect, according to the Korea Exchange. Retail investors sold a net 1 trillion won ($700 million) w

2026-08-03 15:10:32:00

Kospi whiplash calls to rein in rosy forecasts, margin trading

South Korea's roller-coaster stock market in July has prompted calls for tighter scrutiny of overly bullish brokerage research and stricter margin-lending rules, with industry officials arguing that inflated expectations and heavily leveraged trading amplified retail investors' losses amid sharp market swings. According to the Korea Exchange, the Kospi fell 22.19 percent in July after surging 101.14 percent in the first half. Circuit breakers were triggered on two consecutive trading days for th

2026-08-02 16:46:18:00

NPS eyes corporate pension oversight, stirring competition concerns

South Korea’s National Pension Service is seeking to serve as an outsourced chief investment officer, or OCIO, for corporate retirement pension funds, raising concerns that its entry could distort competition and expand state influence over private-sector capital. An OCIO oversees a pension fund’s investment strategy, selects and monitors asset managers and manages risks on behalf of the fund. According to financial industry sources on Thursday, the NPS submitted a proposal titled “Plan for Pub

2026-07-30 20:24:04:00