The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. She can be reached at jiyoony@nhqv.com -- Ed.In 2023, the consumer goods portion of Korea’s exports surpassed that of capital goods for the first time in 25 years. While domestic consumption should weaken on higher interest expense burden in 2
The author is an analyst for Shinhan Securities. He can be reached at sanghoonpure.cho@shinhan.com -- Ed.3Q23 OP of KRW126.8bn (+44.6% YoY) beats consensus by 12%GS Retail posted operating profit of KRW126.8bn (+44.6% YoY) on sales of KRW3.09tr (+4.5% YoY) in 3Q23, beating the market consensus by 12
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
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. She can be reached at jiyoony@nhqv.com -- Ed.If excluding one-off labor costs, AmorePacific met 3Q23 consensus. Due to the slow recovery of Sulwhasoo in China, earnings growth at the firm is likely to remain flat in 4Q23. However, we see justi
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
While the global economy faces a downturn, domestic beauty industry leaders like Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care are grappling with challenging times. In stark contrast, Kolmar is flourishing on its own. Amid the repercussions of the economic downturn, the consumer market has experienced
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
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
Hanwha Solutions announced on Oct. 17 that it will expand its module production capacity in the United States, which was 1.7 gigawatts (GW) in the first half of this year, to 8.4 GW by the first half of next year, a five-fold increase.This makes it the largest capacity for a solar company producing
The results of an analysis about third quarter 2023 market capitalization changes in the domestic stock market were released by CXO Research Institute, an organization specializing in Korean business analysis, on Oct. 11. Based on the analysis, the total market capitalization of the domestic stock m
Habitat for Humanity addressed the crisis of affordable and inclusive housing in Asia and the Pacific and urged stakeholders to take sustainable approaches for adequate housing in informal settlements, at a press conference hosted by the global non-profit housing organization today. Habitat also hig
Korea’s industrial production, which had shrunken due to a slump in the semiconductor industry, made a comeback as semiconductor production rebounded.According to Statistics Korea on Oct. 4, the nation’s semiconductor production surged 13.4 percent month on month in August, the largest increase in f
As of the end of last year, South Korea’s household debt-to-GDP ratio reached 108.1 percent, making it the second-largest country in the world in terms of household debt relative to national economic size. It was ranked fourth globally in 2021, but it has climbed two more steps in just one year.Acco
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
S-OIL on Sept. 22 held charity event “Sharing Songpyeon (traditional Korean half-moon-shaped rice cake) with S-OIL” at its head office building in Mapo-gu, Seoul together with the Mapo Community Welfare Center of Loveaid Foundation.On that day, the CEO and some 100 employees prepared 500 Chuseok gif
On Sept. 14, HD Hyundai’s HD Hyundai Energy Solution announced that it has signed a solar module supply contract with Portugal’s MCA Company amounting to 130 MW. The total contract value is 422 billion won (US$318 million).Under this contract, HD Hyundai Energy Solution will supply approximately 200
In the span of a year, bad loans in corporate lending from the five major banks have surged by over 400 billion won (US$300.98 million), heading towards the 3 trillion won mark. With the corporate sector facing economic challenges, there are concerns that the fierce competition in corporate lending
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
Samsung C&T’s Trading & Investment Division announced on Sept. 14 that its U.S. renewable energy subsidiary, Samsung C&T Renewables, has signed a sale and development service agreement for a 3 gigawatt (GW) solar and energy storage system (ESS) project in southern Texas with Sunraycer Renewables, a
Lotte Group has announced that it will be hosting the “South Korea Brand Expo in Jakarta” in collaboration with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) until Sept. 8 in Jakarta, Indonesia.Since it began in 2016, the South Korea Brand Expo is holding its 17th event and has recorded a cumu