On Jan. 17, KB Financial Group was announced as the only domestic financial company to be selected for the “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World” by the global ESG advisory group Corporate Knights, marking its consecutive inclusion for two years.The “Global 100 Most Sustainable Corp
South Korean battery companies are reportedly exploring the possibility of establishing a lithium processing plant in Chile, the world’s largest holder of lithium reserves. According to Bloomberg on Jan. 19 (local time), Invest Chile, the foreign investment promotion agency of the South American nat
The won-dollar exchange rate has been on the rise, leading to an influx of foreign selling. The KOSPI index experienced volatility as foreign investors unloaded their holdings, causing it to fall below the 2440 level from the previous day.On the morning of Jan. 18, the KOSPI is indicating a modest r
Korean companies doing business in China expect the Chinese market to improve in the second half of this year and beyond. In particular, they expect their sales to ascend from 2023.The largest number of the respondents (40 percent) expect an improvement in their business in China after 2024, followe
As the maturity date for equity-linked securities (ELS) linked to Hong Kong’s Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) worth 10 trillion won (US$7.6 billion) approaches in the first half of the year, it has been revealed that a confirmed loss of 100 billion won has been incurred since the beginning
South Korean passports took second place in the global passport power rankings. They moved up one spot from third place last year.The number of countries that give visa-free entry to Korean passport holders stood at 193, which means Korean passports claim second place, tied with Finland and Sweden,
The Bank of Korea (BOK) has decided to maintain the benchmark interest rate at 3.50 percent during its first Monetary Policy Committee meeting of the year, marking the “eighth consecutive” freeze. This decision is interpreted as a cautious stance, considering the ongoing global trend of major centra
A research study revealed that the total market capitalization of all listed companies in South Korea has increased by nearly 500 trillion won over the past year. The top two companies in terms of market cap growth were Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, with the combined market cap of these two comp
Rongsheng Petrochemical, China’s largest petrochemical company, will begin a major expansion of petrochemical products at the beginning of the new year. The expansion portfolio includes intermediate raw materials and synthetic resins, which are the main products of Korean petrochemical companies.Ron
In the fourth quarter of last year, the annual performance of South Korea’s largest container shipping company HMM and bulk carrier operator Pan Ocean plummeted due to a slump in the shipping industry.According to financial information firm FnGuide on Jan. 8, the estimated performance consensus for
The majority of Chinese companies listed on the South Korean stock market have experienced a sharp decline in their stock prices over the past year. This is attributed to the economic downturn in China last year, which worsened investor sentiment towards Chinese companies coupled with accumulated di
As the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (HSCEI) in Hong Kong experiences a sharp decline, a substantial loss in equity-linked securities (ELS) linked to this index is anticipated, with outstanding sales of related products reaching a staggering 20 trillion won. Concerns are mounting over potential
In India, where global corporations and investors are focusing their attention as the “next China,” Mirae Asset Global Investments is gaining influence in the local market by surpassing 1 trillion won in assets under management (AUM) with its exchange-traded funds (ETFs).According to the asset manag
Semiconductor stocks including those of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix fell altogether.On the KOSPI and KOSDAQ stock market on Jan. 3, stocks of semiconductor giants and even companies producing materials, components, and equipment for chipmakers fell due to an anti-China export control issue invo
Starting in the second half of this year, non-index-linked general public funds will be directly listed on the Korea Exchange and traded like exchange traded funds (ETFs). With increased convenience for investors and reduced sales commissions, expectations are high for the revitalization of the fund
The demand for spandex, a functional fiber known for its strength and elasticity and widely used in clothing such as hiking apparel and leggings, is showing signs of recovery. This has led to Hyosung TNC’s spandex facilities operating at over 90% capacity.Industry sources reported on Jan. 2 that the
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at pk.park@nhqv.com -- Ed.Gene cell therapy approaches are gradually gaining renewed attention in response to recent CRISPR and CAR-T news. GCT received keen attention in 2H20 as a viral vector and mRNA-based coronavirus vacc
Debt, or credit, for both households and businesses surged to a historic peak, surpassing twice the gross domestic product (GDP) during the third quarter of this year. With an increasing number of businesses relying on non-banking institutions after the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with a rising house
Last month witnessed a turnaround in domestic production and consumption with an increase, while investments declined for the second consecutive month.According to the “Industrial Activity Trends for November 2023” report released by Statistics Korea on Dec. 28, overall industrial production, exclud
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