Hanwha Life Insurance has become the first domestic insurance company to venture into overseas banking.The company announced on April 24 that it will acquire a 40 percent stake in Nobu Bank held by Lippo Group, the sixth largest conglomerate in Indonesia. The process of equity investment will be fin
The amount of debts owed by households and businesses in Korea was more than twice Korea’s gross domestic product (GDP). About half of the nation’s companies were unable to pay even interest on their debts with money they earned from sales, revealing their vulnerability.The ratio of private credit t
To strengthen its global operations, Shinhan Bank is accelerating the development and marketing of products targeting local customers, including the launch of digital loan products overseas.According to Shinhan Bank on March 12, Shinhan Bank Indonesia is partnering with local fintech platform compan
For four consecutive years, South Korea has maintained its position as the top country among 34 advanced and emerging markets worldwide in terms of household debt relative to gross domestic product (GDP). As of the end of last year, the ratio stood at 100.1 percent, slightly lower than the previous
The Monetary Policy Board of the Bank of Korea (BOK) has decided to maintain the key interest rate at the existing level of 3.50 percent. Despite the domestic inflation rate falling to the 2 percent range, it is deemed difficult to consider it as having reached a stable level, especially considering
The government has announced its intention to reduce the ratio of household debt to gross domestic product (GDP) to below 100 percent by the year 2027.On Jan. 4, the government released the “2024 Economic Policy Direction,” outlining its strategy for managing household debt.According to the Bank for
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.In 2023, an inflection point for the stock market was reached reflecting the differing stances taken by the Fed and market participants. Recently, the Fed has begun looking ahead toward lowering interest
Moody’s, the international credit rating agency, issued a forecast today stating that the exposure and risk levels of domestic banks to real estate are significant. The agency warned that the materialization of “tail risk” depends on the conditions of the real estate market. Tail risk refers to a ty
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.Although the Covid-19 pandemic has ended, it has impacted global policies and life patterns. Anti-globalization has accelerated, and the new Cold War has deepened, with regional wars erupting. While drama
The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) changing the paradigm of the global automobile market has come to an abrupt halt. As a result, carmakers are showing mixed moves.General Motors (GM), Ford and Volkswagen, as well as the world’s No. 1 EV maker Tesla, have postponed or canceled their investment pl
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at sw.kang@nhqv.com -- Ed.With the US unemployment rate rising for a second straight month, we are nearing the threshold for the Sahm Rule recession indicator (which has a 100% historical accuracy rate). Given the effects of
According to data obtained from the Financial Supervisory Service by Rep. Seo Beom-soo, a member of the National Assembly’s Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Committee, on Nov. 1, the outstanding balance of housing mortgage loans for foreigners, offered by the four major commercial banks -- KB Koo
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at jk.ahn@shinhan.com -- Ed.BOK likely to keep base rate at 3.50% given inflation and household debtAt the upcoming October meeting, we expect the Monetary Policy Board (MPB) of the Bank of Korea (BOK) to make a unanimous decision to
As of the second quarter of this year, household and corporate debt has surged to approximately 2.26 times the nation’s economic size as measured by the gross domestic product (GDP). The Bank of Korea (BOK) has issued a warning emphasizing that the further expansion of private credit could potential
Last year, South Korea’s private debt growth rate relative to its gross domestic product (GDP) was reported to be the highest in the world. While households and businesses are reducing their debt in most countries in the aftermath of COVID-19, South Korea is drawing attention for moving in the oppos
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Korea (BOK) has decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 3.50 percent annually. This marks the fifth consecutive freeze following similar decisions in February, April, May, and July.The MPC held a monetary policy direction meeting on the m
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at jk.ahn@shinhan.com -- Ed.July MPB meeting confirms BOK is in a bind, unable to raise or cut ratesThe Bank of Korea (BOK) unanimously decided to keep the base rate unchanged at 3.50% at the July Monetary Policy Board (MPB) meeting.
Korean credit card companies are growing fast in Southeast Asia. KB Card has risen to the top of the local car installment market share standings in Cambodia since making a foray into the country four years ago. Shinhan Card is also earning billions of won from its installment business in Vietnam an
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at jk.ahn@shinhan.com -- Ed.US yields to slow their rise after May CPI release and June FOMC meetingThe market’s focus is now shifting to the US Fed’s FOMC meeting on June 13-14 (local time). KTB yields have been on a steep uptrend f
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at kw.eun@shinhan.com -- Ed.1Q23 earnings reviewKakaoBank posted net profit of controlling interest of KRW101.9bn (+52.5% YoY) for 1Q23, beating our estimate by 15.4% and the market consensus by 23.3%. Interest rate declines led to v