China’s e-commerce giant AliExpress continues to face ongoing controversies in the domestic market, with persistent debates surrounding the sale of counterfeit products and product quality.According to industry sources on Jan. 23, the Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform AliExpress has recently
The government aims to prevent the manipulation of treasury stocks for the enhancement of controlling stakes without additional investments. To achieve this, it has prohibited the issuance of new shares for treasury stocks during corporate spinoffs and strengthened disclosure regulations, including
Last year, South Korea achieved a historic high in whiskey imports, surpassing 30,000 tons. In contrast, wine imports decreased by over 20 percent, showing a downward trend for the second consecutive year.According to the trade statistics released by the Korea Customs Service on Jan. 30, the import
Japan’s Sony Group has surpassed Samsung Electronics in operating profit for the first time in 24 years. Just 14 years ago, the combined operating profit of nine major Japanese electronics companies did not even reach half of Samsung Electronics’. With Sony’s strong performance last year, however, i
As international oil prices and refining margins both experienced a simultaneous decline in the fourth quarter of last year, the oil industry’s performance was once again placed in a state of emergency.In the worst-case scenario, four major oil companies -- SK Energy, GS Caltex, S-Oil, and HD Hyunda
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and a key figure in the global spread of generative AI sparked by ChatGPT, is visiting South Korea on Jan. 26. This visit follows his recent proposal to shake up the industry with the establishment of a global AI semiconductor production network.According to the semicon
South Korea’s economy continued to grow slowly throughout the year of 2023 with an annualized growth rate in the low 1 percent range. Exports are expecting it to continue to improve, but a strong rebound is unlikely this year as domestic demand remains weak.The Bank of Korea (BOK) released prelimina
The Korean steel industry is preparing to file an anti-dumping case against cheap Chinese and Japanese hot-rolled steel products.The Korean steel industry led by POSCO is preparing to file an anti-dumping complaint against Chinese and Japanese steel products, according to sources in the steel indust
SK hynix announced on Jan. 25 that it plans to more than double the production capacity of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) this year compared to the previous year. This move is part of the company’s strategy to capture the new demand from artificial intelligence (AI) applications.This shows the confiden
OneAsia Partners, a private equity fund management company suspected of involvement in Kakao’s illegal market price manipulation during the acquisition process of SM Entertainment, has been handed over to the prosecution. During the investigation, prosecutors reportedly uncovered additional criminal
SK hynix Inc. announced today that it recorded an operating profit of 346 billion won (US$259 million) in the fourth quarter of last year amid a recovery of the memory chip market, marking the first quarter of profit following four straight quarters of losses.The company posted revenues of 11.31 tri
The global slowdown in electric vehicle (EV) demand has significantly impacted POSCO FUTURE M’s profitability, as reflected in their sharp decline in operating profit last year.On Jan. 23, POSCO FUTURE M announced that its operating profit for the last year was 35.9 billion won (US$26.8 million), a
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at yk.choi@nhqv.com -- Ed.We lower our TP on Hyosung TNC to W440,000 to reflect both a slower-than-expected spandex industry recovery and underperforming fiber division earnings. But, we still see clearly improved fundamental
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.Mobile Device Distribution Improvement Act abolished 10 years after implementationOn Jan 22, the Korean government announced its decision to abolish three regulations closely related to public liv
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at ys.jung@nhqv.com -- Ed.Offshore fixed-cost burden is weighing on 2024 earnings momentum, but the long-term profit outlook remains favorable. LPG and ammonia carrier orders are likely to exceed targets. Rising vessel prices
3D Factory, a South Korean global platform dedicated to the development of the metaverse, announced on Jan. 22 that it has been selected as the advertising planner and executor for the entire Taif region of Saudi Arabia. This public project was commissioned by the Ministry of Municipal and Affairs a
The author is an analyst for NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at ys.jung@nhqv.com -- Ed.Delivered strong 4Q23 results on early start to peak season and rising demand for Southeast Asian routesWe maintain a Buy rating and TP of W17,000 on Jin Air. Korea’s leading LCC posted 4Q23 sales of
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
A forecast has emerged predicting substantial growth in South Korea’s exports this year. On Jan. 18, the Bank of Korea (BOK) published an issue note titled “Assessment and Insights on Global Growth and Trade Post-Pandemic – BOK Issue Note.”The BOK foresees an expansion in South Korea’s export growth
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