Last year, due to the surge in demand for electric vehicles (EVs), prices of core battery minerals like lithium and nickel reached a peak. However, they have been on a decline recently. Battery cathode material companies that purchased these minerals when they were expensive are now facing challenge
South Korea and Japan are set to resume their regular financial supervision meetings, or shuttle meetings, that had been suspended since 2017. Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Kim Joo-hyun plans to visit Japan in early October to discuss expanding financial exchanges. This development co
It has been revealed that foreign currency loans extended by South Korea’s top four banks have swelled to nearly 91 trillion won (US$68.27 billion) this year, with an increase of nearly 1 trillion won. This surge is attributed to the apprehension among businesses, driven by the continued volatility
As of the end of August this year, South Korea’s foreign exchange reserves were recorded at US$418.3 billion. This marks a decrease of US$3.5 billion compared to the previous month.On Sept. 5, the Bank of Korea announced the size of foreign exchange reserves and attributed the decrease to primarily
The South Korean government’s initiative to issue “Samurai Bonds” has been seen as a signal of enhanced economic cooperation between South Korea and Japan. Following the government’s move to issue Samurai Bonds, there is growing interest in whether South Korean companies will also embark on yen-deno
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at bk@nhqv.com -- Ed.In terms of policy effects, the US appears to be winning this new phase of the Cold War. Although Korea has chosen to support the US, it is still impacted by developments in both the US and China due to i
In the second quarter of this year, Korea’s net external financial assets (external financial assets minus external financial liabilities), which reflects the country’s external solvency, declined amid rising stock markets at home and abroad.However, Korea’s ratio of short-term external debt to tota
In the first half of this year South Korea’s steel imports showed an increase of over 10% compared to last year. This significant rise in imports is attributed to fluctuations in the exchange rates of major importing countries like China and Japan coupled with a domestic industrial boom leading to a
The key focus of the economic collaboration announced at Camp David between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan is the mitigation of “China Risk.” This cooperative effort is aimed at countering China’s growing influence in high-tech industries by jointly tackling supply chain disruptions and technologi
The Korean government will issue yen-denominated foreign exchange stabilization bonds, also known as samurai bonds, for the first time since the 1998 foreign exchange crisis in Korea. Private investors, including major Japanese banks, are being targeted. They are expected to help Korean companies to
The news of a visit to Korea by an official from the UAE Royal Family Office (hereafter referred to as the UAE Royal Office), which has signed a business agreement with Aiitone, a KOSDAQ-listed company, is attracting attention from related industries.Aiitone (CEO Jin Yeop Lee), a fintech specialist
During the middle of July, South Korea witnessed a consecutive two-month rise in its foreign exchange reserves, reflecting an increase of US$350 million. This surge can be attributed to the upward valuation of foreign currency assets against the backdrop of a weakened U.S. dollar, particularly again
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
Hyundai Motor and Kia are joining hands with BMW, General Motors, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis to establish a joint venture to build an electric vehicle charging network in the United States.On July 27, Hyundai Motor and Kia, along with GM and seven other major automakers, announced in a joi
Since its statistical tracking began in June 2012, foreign currency deposits in Japanese yen have seen their most significant upswing. This surge is attributed to the “YenTech” boom, where investors seek to gain exchange rate profits as the value of the yen rises.According to “Foreign Currency Depos
In the first six months of this year, the net issuance of Korean Paper denominated in foreign currencies by domestic residents, excluding the government, amounted to US$13.3 billion. This marks a significant increase compared to the previous year’s annual net issuance of US$11.4 billion. Furthermore
Nextrade (NXT), a preparatory corporation for an alternative exchange, has received preliminary approval for an investment brokerage license from the Financial Services Commission (FSC) on July 19. As early as the beginning of 2025, it will be possible to trade listed stocks, such as Samsung Electro
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at esshim@nhqv.com -- Ed.Due to a reported breach of Genians’ NAC solution, investor sentiment towards the firm has worsened, resulting in a share price plunge. However, no damage has been confirmed, and related business impa
LG Chem announced on July 12 that it has completed the issuance of US$2 billion worth of foreign currency exchangeable bonds (EBs).The previous day’s demand collection to investors in Asia and Europe attracted more than US$10 billion from more than 150 investors and institutions. The amount was more
Business leaders from Korea and Japan gathered again in Seoul for the Korea-Japan Industrial Cooperation Forum to discuss ways to boost cooperation between the two countries. Recently the two countries have accelerated their economic cooperation, including the signing of a currency swap for the firs