Korea’s trade balance posted a surplus for the second consecutive month thanks to a sharp drop in imports, mainly energy imports. Although Korea’s switch to a trade surplus has been accelerated, a rebound in exports, which have continued to decline, remains a challenge for Corporate Korea.According
In July, Korean-based carmakers’ sales in Korea fell for the first time in 11 months.According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) on Aug. 1, the domestic sales including complete knock down car sales of five Korean-based carmakers including Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp., GM Korea, a
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong ambitiously invested 9 trillion won (approximately US$8 billion at the time) in the company Harman, and after a span of about six years Harman has now firmly established itself as a robust and integral part of Samsung Electronics’ business portfolio.In Samsung Electroni
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at hpark@shinhan.com -- Ed.Solid performance reported at home and in ChinaF&F registered consolidated operating profit of KRW110.1bn (+16% YoY) on sales of KRW405.5bn (+9% YoY) in 2Q23, largely coming in line with market expectation
The difference in interest rates between Korea and the United States, which has reached 2 percentage points for the first time in history, is expected to continue for quite some time. However, the Korean foreign exchange market has been calm, starting at a low point in early trading despite concerns
Hanwha Aerospace has achieved the remarkable feat of supplying 129 Redback armored vehicles to the Australian Army.Hanwha Aerospace announced on July 27 that its Redback armored vehicle has been selected as the preferred model of Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) in the “Land 400 Phase 3 Project,” whi
Hyundai Rotem is accelerating its moves to receive railway vehicle orders with the export of its K2 tank. In the first half of this year, the company received the largest-ever amount (worth 3 trillion won) of orders including an order for railway trains for Australia. In Korea, it will make the firs
LG Electronics is releasing washing machines and dryers that can install and uninstall apps just like a smartphone. The company, which has previously focused on producing quality hardware products, plans to expand its business to include services and subscriptions that utilize these products.Ryu Jae
Recently, the glass door of a washer produced by LG Electronics that was purchased only a month previous suddenly exploded into pieces. Since 2022, there have been a series of accidents involving the breakage of tempered glass attached to washing machines, raising concerns among consumers.According
OLED panels are expected to surpass 50 percent adoption in smartphone displays for the first time this year.According to industry sources on July 20, OLED displays have overtaken LCDs as a dominant display ecosystem and are expanding their applications. Consumers have become pickier as they encounte
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at sanghoonpure.cho@shinhan.com -- Ed.Defensive plays lack luster in unfavorable external conditionsOver the past two years, key investment points for the food/beverage sector have been price hikes, grain price declines, and the subs
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.
“Huawei is willing to share cutting-edge innovations in the form of patents with the world,” said the company’s Chief Legal Officer, Song Liuping, who added, “These will support the common, sustainable development of industries globally.”His remarks were made at Huawei’s annual flagship event on inn
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. She can be reached at inhae.ji@shinhan.com -- Ed.Leading indicator of media sector turnaroundWe note that the upturn in share prices of domestic media plays including production studios is closely linked to the recovery of ad market conditions at home
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has decided to delay Pillar One of a global digital tax, which will require multinational companies such as Google, Apple and Samsung Electronics to pay taxes in countries where they actually generate sales, by one year from 2024 to 20
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at jk.ahn@shinhan.com -- Ed.Lowered expectations for US rate cuts, strong external headwinds for 3Q23US Treasury yields are unlikely to move lower in 3Q. The Silicon Valley Bank crisis and the ensuing financial market unrest that tri
A three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology capable of eliminating cancer cells using the function of immune cells has been developed for the first time in the world.Through joint research with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (President Sang Jin Park, hereinafter referred to as KI
The Semiconductor Fabless Alliance, involving semiconductor demand companies and supply companies, has been established. The objective of the alliance is to promote synergy among enterprises and strengthen industrial competitiveness by developing semiconductors based on domestic finished products th
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. She can be reached at jiyoony@nhqv.com -- Ed.We expect FILA Holdings to report consensus-missing 2Q23 results, affected by widening losses at the US business. Although design commissions and royalties should remain stable, we trim our earnings
The Korean government will push for an amendment to an executive decree to allow foreign companies to receive cash support for alternative investments other than investments in the construction of new factories or the expansion of existing factories and the creation of jobs. General Motors (GM) and