Some market experts forecast that the Kospi index will respond to future developments on the global virus pandemic. They also warned investors to focus on measures taken by major affected countries, including emergency reactions by governments -- more than 6.20 trillion won budget in Korea to cushion the impact from the new coronavirus outbreak. “It is true that investor fears have been reflecte...

South Korea’s tax agency said Friday that it had begun inspections of mask filter manufacturing companies to prevent illegal profiteering amid the new coronavirus outbreak. The National Tax Service has examined 12 local manufacturers that produce nearly 95 percent of the nation’s supply of filter material -- melt blown nonwoven fabric. Melt blown or MB filters are the core material for hygiene ...

South Korean stocks dipped over 1 percent Thursday after the nation’s central bank decided to keep its policy rate steady for now despite the market’s widespread anticipation of a further cut. The benchmark Kospi opened lower at 2,073.87 -- down 2.90 points, or 0.14 percent, from the previous session. The index edged up in early morning then suddenly headed south after the Bank of Korea’s announ...

Mirae Asset Financial Group has donated 2 billion won ($1.64 million) to the Hope Bridge Association of the National Disaster Relief to support medical personnel and provide relief goods amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The donation was made to provide items needed for medical and relief aid, such as protective outfits and masks, and daily necessities, especially for people in Daegu and North Gyeongs...

South Korean stocks headed south Wednesday -- after a brief rally a day earlier -- as the number of confirmed COVID-19 virus cases here reached over 1,000. The local currency also dipped against the US dollar, closing at 1,216.90 won -- down 6.60 won from the previous session’s close. The benchmark Kospi opened sharply lower at 2,064.07 -- sinking 39.54 points, or 1.88 percent, from the previous...

South Korean shares rose more than 1 percent Tuesday as investors went bargain hunting, after COVID-19 fears led to the sharpest fall in 16 months in the previous session. The benchmark Kospi opened slightly low at 2,075.55 -- down 3.49 points, or 0.17 percent, from the previous session. The index fluctuated between losses and gains in the early morning, then moved upward throughout the day to c...

According to the Korea Exchange Gold Market, the price of gold closed at 64,800 won per gram -- up 3.09 percent from the previous closing price. The price has recorded the highest level since launching the nation’s gold trading platform in March 2014. The price on gold rose for the sixth consecutive session, dating to Feb. 17. It began at 64,700 won per gram, up 2.9 percent, while marking a new ...

With the number of COVID-19 patients expanding rapidly across South Korea, the domestic stock market saw its market capitalization shed over 12 trillion won ($9.95 billion) over the past month, data showed Sunday. According to data released by financial market tracker FnGuide, the market cap of both the nation’s benchmark Kospi and secondary tech-heavy Kosdaq listed firms shed a combined 12.78 t...

South Korean brokerage firm Mirae Asset Daewoo said Thursday its wrap account attracted a record net inflow of 100 billion won ($83.4 million). The fund is the first in Korea to surpass the milestone as a wrap account investing in overseas exchange-traded funds, the company said. A rise in investors’ interest in overseas stock markets and investment in ETFs appear to have driven the increase in...

The COVID-19 virus entering a new phase here has put the brakes on local stock markets and the attempt for improved performance this year, along with the snowballing Lime Asset Management fiasco that has been sending shockwaves through the local brokerage industry, according to industry sources Wednesday. The local stock market opened high this year amid heighten sentiment for an improved econom...

After a strong performance by technology-related stocks such as semiconductors and secondary batteries, the top three Korean conglomerates -- Samsung, LG and SK Group -- saw their market capitalization figures rise this year, data showed Tuesday. According to financial market tracker FnGuide, the combined market cap of Samsung’s 16 listed subsidiaries jumped nearly 10.18 percent from end-Decembe...

A landmark success case was its choice to invest some 12 billion won in the K-pop boy group BTS and its agency Big Hit. That investment reached 75.1 billion won as of November, a return on investment of about 530 percent for KDB Capital. Besides investing in BTS, KDB has been leading the nation’s cultural contents’ innovation and growth by launching other funds worth nearly 500 billion won. “Th...

South Korea’s Mirae Asset Capital, the parent company and largest shareholder of Mirae Asset Daewoo, agreed to buy its brokerage unit’s stocks for 40 billion won ($33.8 million), officials said Thursday. According to DART -- the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure board -- Mirae Asset Capital decided to purchase some 570 common shares of Mirae Asset Daewoo during the local stoc...

Shares of both Barunson E&A, the production company of Oscar-winning “Parasite,” and the entertainment division of stationery and restaurant conglomerate Barunson hit a new 52-week high Wednesday. Barunson E&A shares touched 3,815 won ($3.24) -- up 880 won, or 29.98 percent, from the previous session. The firm had previously peaked by the daily limit of about 30 percent for two straight trading ...

A graduate school aimed at nurturing digital finance specialists will be launched in Seoul’s financial district of Yeouido in September, in a joint project between the Financial Services Commission and the city government, officials said Wednesday. Stressing that the financial service sector is going through a major transformation with information technology, the two will fund 19 billion won ($1...