Korean shipbuilding stocks have been rallying as expectations grow that the Korean shipbuilding industry will enjoy reflective benefits from US sanctions against China.According to the Korea Exchange on April 23, Hanwha Ocean closed at 34,750 won (US$25.35), down 2550 won, or 7.92 percent, from Apri
Taiwan, a major hub for the world’s top semiconductor companies, has experienced a series of earthquakes, leading to temporary delays in semiconductor supply and potential price hikes.On April 23, the industry reported that over 50 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 3.0 to 6.3, struck eastern Taiwa
Samsung Electronics has launched a next-generation NAND flash product with the industry’s highest-stacked semiconductor cells. With the surge in artificial intelligence (AI) demanding vast amounts of image and video data, the value of NAND storage is also rising.On April 23, Samsung Electronics anno
As the final bid for the sale of Asiana Airlines’ cargo business approaches, attention is turning to the future owner. The acquisition is expected to amount to around 1 trillion won, including debt. Out of the four low-cost carriers (LCCs) that have entered the bidding, three are experiencing capita
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix did not pay corporate taxes last year as they both recorded operating losses due to the downturn in the semiconductor industry.According to Samsung Electronics’ business report released on April 23, the company recorded an operating loss of 11.52 trillion won (US$8.3
Chinese electric multiple unit rapid transit cars, which dominated the U.S. electric rapid transit car market through price war, are being withdrawn from the market one after another due to safety issues and rising costs. Hyundai Rotem, which has struggled due to the price war, is aggressively pursu
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at youngryu@nhqv.com. -- Ed.Noise appearing here and there; market expectations being adjustedAfter ASML and TSMC announced weaker-than-expected 1Q24 results and negative market outlooks, tech firms have experienced overall s
Both Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, the two leading semiconductor giants in South Korea, closed lower. The decline was influenced by a simultaneous sharp drop in semiconductor stock prices, with Nvidia falling by 10 percent in the U.S. market.In the KOSPI market on April 22, Samsung Electronics c
South Korea is expected to maintain its position as the most expensive country for smartphones in the world. Since surpassing Japan in 2021, South Korea has held onto this top spot without challenge, with forecasts suggesting it will continue to have the highest average selling price (ASP) for smart
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at ldh@sinhan.com -- Ed.1Q24 review: OP of engines surpasses construction equipmentHD Hyundai Infracore posted sales of KRW1.16tr (-10% YoY), operating profit of KRW92.8bn (-39% YoY), and operating margin of 8% (-3.8%p YoY) for 1Q24.
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at sunmi.kim@shinhan.com -- Ed.Strong top-line drives earnings surprise & annual forecast revisionHyundai Engineering & Construction posted sales of KRW8.5tr and operating profit of KRW250.9bn for 1Q24, beating consensus estimates b
Interest in the Chinese e-commerce platform that surged in the Korean market with its low-price strategy appears to be waning. The average usage time for the AliExpress app (combining Android and iOS) has plummeted to levels last seen three years ago, and the transaction volume is also at a meager l
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Électricité de France (EDF) are vying for a contract to build nuclear power plants in the Czech Republic, which are estimated to be worth at least 30 trillion won. If KHNP wins the order, it will mark the first nuclear power export from South Korea in 15 years
The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) will hold a seminar on “Global Economic Turbulence: Prospects and Implications for the World and Korean Economy” from 09:30 on Tuesday, April 30 at the FKI Tower Conference Center in Yeouido.The seminar is being held to assess the global economic impact of r
Korean appliances are making strides in Europe, one of the world’s most conservative markets. Although the European market is known for its traditional preferences, Korean companies have carved out a strong presence by adopting tailored strategies that cater to local tastes.Last year, LG Electronics
The exchange rate between the Korean won and the U.S. dollar has surged by more than 7 percent this year, surpassing the magnitude of the increase during the global financial crisis from 2008 to 2009.On April 19, the won-U.S. dollar exchange rate concluded trading at 1,382.2 won in the foreign excha
In the first quarter of this year, Korea’s exports to the United States surpassed those to China for the first time since the second quarter of 2003.Exports to the U.S. are expected to remain strong for the foreseeable future, driven by foreign direct investment (FDI) in the manufacturing industries
The collective net worth of Korea’s 50 Richest on the 2024 Forbes list rose slightly to US$115 billion from $106 billion, amid the country’s global chipmaking ambitions. The complete list can be found at www.forbes.com/korea, as well as in the April/May issue of Forbes Asia and the May issue of Forb
With U.S. President Joe Biden directing the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to triple tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, attention is turning to impacts the action will have on Korea’s steel industry.According to the Korean government and the Korean steel industry on April 17, the
After years of double-digit growth, the global electric vehicle market is entering a chasm, considered to be a slowdown in demand just before mass adoption. Global automakers that have been aggressively investing to expand their electric vehicle lineups are scrambling for survival by making use of a