A recovery in the influx of Chinese group tours into South Korea is becoming noticeable. Chinese tourists to South Korea have passed the pre-COVID-19 level and are getting closer to the level where they peaked in the past. New momentum in China’s recovering economy is also something that can help se
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Recent ELCC data released by J&J proves that the expanded adverse reactions seen during phase III trials of Mariposa can be managed. With approval expected mid-year, now is the time to pay attention
Align Partners Capital Management has raised the issue of overseas shareholders not being able to properly use a cumulative voting system ahead of JB Financial Group’s general shareholders meeting scheduled for March 28.“We have confirmed a number of cases where overseas shareholders have been unabl
The CEO of Osstem Implant allegedly made approximately 150 million won (US$111,431) in short-term trading profits by utilizing important undisclosed information before the company’s delisting.According to Osstem Implant’s business report for last year released on March 22, the company was informed o
SG is a leading domestic asphalt concrete maker. We expect to see: 1) significant improvement in public procurement orders following the end of regulations on SMEs; 2) market share expansion for the firm’s ecosteel asphalt concrete; and 3) benefits for the newly established Ukrainian subsidiary afte
The 17-year trend of Japan’s persistent negative interest rates has come to an end, yet the market’s response remains tepid. This is attributed to assessments indicating difficulty in perceiving a full-fledged tightening. However, there are prospects suggesting that the yen may strengthen from the s
The online stock trading platform Webull, which is gaining popularity among global individual investors based on its commission-free policy, is entering the domestic securities market in Korea. Consequently, there are concerns that individual investors who currently invest in the U.S. stock market t
As the Bank of Japan (BOJ) has embarked on its first interest rate hike in 17 years, it is anticipated that the strengthening of the yen due to the lifting of Japan’s negative interest rates could have a positive impact on domestic exports such as semiconductors, automobiles, and shipbuilding. Howev
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.HIFU equipment exports from Gangnam-gu, Seoul to Brazil rebounded in February. Gangnam-gu’s aesthetic consumables and RF equipment exports continue to level up. Aesthetic equipment exports from Yuseo
With the unprecedented boom in the U.S. stock market since the beginning of this year, domestic individual investors have poured 4 trillion won (US$3 billion) into direct stock investments abroad, surpassing four times the amount invested during the same period last year. Securities firms are also r
The combined operating profit of the top 10 companies by market capitalization in the South Korean stock market falls short of those of leading Japanese company Toyota and top Taiwanese company TSMC.To address the “Korea discount,” which refers to the undervaluation of South Korean stocks, it is poi
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at esshim@nhqv.com -- Ed.GnBS Eco is a manufacturer of eco-friendly equipment, including plasma scrubbers for use in the production of semiconductors, displays, and solar panels. We foresee the materialization of a steep earn
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at junsup@nhqv.com -- Ed.We believe that Samsung Life will boast the most visible and active shareholder return among major insurance plays. However, with such expectations already partially reflected, the firm’s share price
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at sw.kang@nhqv.com -- Ed.The Fed's rate cut playbook emphasizes cuts sooner rather than later and further tightening. With this in mind, we anticipate bullish steepening of yield curves starting from 2Q24. The US and EU are
The author is an analyist for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at junsup@nhqv.com -- Ed.HGI’s 2023 dividend announcement fell somewhat short of market expectations. However, if sufficient profits available for dividend are secured through system improvements, an expansion of shareholder
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at dongyang.kim@nhqv.com -- Ed.At AGMs this year, the spread of shareholder proposals, which has been a global trend since 2023, is to continue. As Korea’s dividend system improvements roll out in earnest, more companies are
HLB disclosed on March 4 that its board of directors has approved the issuance of 60 billion won in convertible bonds to domestic private equity funds and others. The primary purpose of this fundraising is to secure operational funds. Although the company currently holds over 65 billion won in cash
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. She can be reached at hzl.lee@nhqv.com -- Ed.Excluding losses at YG Investment, YG Ent’s 4Q23 results met our expectations. BabyMonster’s first debut album, which is to feature the return of main member Ahyeon, is to be released on Apr 1. We e
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.Global stock markets have rallied of late, with the S&P500 surging for four months in a row. In February, the Kospi has outperformed other major markets. But, the fast market growth is likely to bolster p
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at junsup@nhqv.com -- Ed.From now forward, we believe that the key to determining the value of financial sector plays is to be the existence of specific shareholder return policies and the market's level of trust in them.Boos