The strength of the U.S. dollar, along with measures to stabilize the market and prevent further depreciation of the South Korean won, has resulted in a decline in foreign exchange reserves for the third consecutive month.According to foreign reserves statistics released by the Bank of Korea on Nov.
SK Innovation has successfully achieved a turnaround to profitability within just one quarter, driven by the growth in its overall business profits. The battery division has improved its chances of turning a profit in the fourth quarter, recording its historically lowest operating losses. Meanwhile,
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Hanmi Pharm delivered consensus-beating OP of W57.5bn for 3Q23, helped by both a higher drug (manufactured by Hanmi) sales portion at Hanmi (non-consolidated) and decreased Beijing Hanmi SG&A expense
The ongoing merger process between Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which has persisted for three years, has crossed a significant threshold. Korean Air’s proposal to divest Asiana Airlines’ cargo division has been approved by the board of Asiana Airlines, a strategic move to meet the requirements se
Industrial production, consumption, and investment increased altogether in Korea in October. It was the first time in four months since May that all three indicators of industrial activities were positive. A strong recovery in the semiconductor industry drove the growth of Korea’s overall industrial
In September, South Korea’s trade conditions improved for the fourth consecutive month. Export volumes also turned positive compared to the same month last year, marking the first increase in three months. Export revenue has continued to decline for the 12 consecutive month, but the extent of the de
Despite being the hot topic in the domestic market in the first half of this year, the shares of POSCO Group’s associated companies are currently experiencing a simultaneous downturn. Along with secondary battery-related companies such as EcoPro, share prices have undergone a correction, resulting i
South Korea has set an ambitious goal to rise alongside the United States and China as one of the top three powerhouses in the global energy storage system (ESS) industry by 2036. The nation plans to capture 35% of the rapidly growing global ESS market, aiming to revitalize its currently stagnant do
As corporate loan delinquencies rise, the increasing volume of non-performing loans in banks has eroded their capacity to absorb losses, leading to a deterioration in their financial health.According to Kookmin Bank, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori banks on Oct. 30, the balance of non-performing loans (NPL
The National Pension Service (NPS) Investment Management has announced on Oct. 30 that the cumulative return on its funds for the first eight months of this year stands at an impressive 10.27 percent. This represents a significant increase of 0.54 percentage points compared to the return rate of 9.7
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised South Korea’s sound fiscal policies, stating that the country’s national debt is at an appropriate level. However, the IMF has also expressed concerns about the high levels of household debt in South Korea.According to the transcript of a press brief
Investor concerns are growing within the overseas real estate fund market as even prime overseas office buildings with low vacancy rates are showing investment losses. Particularly, as the maturity dates of real estate funds established from 2018 to 2021 are set to continue, warning signs are also o
The KOSPI index has fluctuated amid consecutive adverse developments, returning to its January levels. Compared to the annual high of 2,667.07 on Aug. 1, it has declined by 13.7 percent.On Oct. 26, the KOSPI index closed at 2,299.08, marking a 2.17 percent decline, while the KOSDAQ index concluded a
Starting next year, foreign residents in South Korea seeking eligibility for health insurance as dependent beneficiaries must have a minimum of 6 months of residency.According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Insurance Service on Oct. 26, an amendment to the Health Insur
South Korea’s defense industry is projected to post robust results in the third quarter, with both sales and operating profits expected to increase compared to last year.According to industry sources on Oct. 26, as third-quarter results for domestic defense companies are to be announced by the end o
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Samsung Biologics’ separate 3Q23 OP surprised at W381.6bn, thanks to the ramp-up of plant #4 and improved efficiency and approval timing for batch orders. Now that the firm has reached a reason valua
The proportion of so-called “zombie companies” unable to cover interest costs with their operating profit has reached its highest level since 2009, standing at 42.3 percent last year. Due to the global economic slowdown and the impact of high interest rates, corporate underperformance persisted in t
In the third quarter, LG Display reported an operating loss of 662.1 billion won (US$489 million), marking the sixth consecutive quarter of losses. However, it is showing an improvement in its performance by reducing its deficit compared to the first quarter of this year, where it had an operating l
Hanwha Ocean has turned a profit. This marks the first time it has emerged from a deficit in 12 quarters since the fourth quarter of 2020.On Oct. 25, Hanwha Ocean announced that it recorded 1.92 trillion won (US$1.42 billion) in revenue, 74.1 billion won in operating profit, and 231.6 billion won in
The controversy surrounding the “Asiana Airlines Cargo Business Separation Sale,” which has emerged as a key issue in the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, is intensifying. As the Asiana Airlines board is set to decide on the separation sale of the cargo business on Oct. 30, both current and