Global non-life insurers have been entering the Korean market one after another. The Korean insurance market ranks seventh or eighth in the world.Star International Insurance Singapore is expected to target the Korean travel insurance and accident insurance markets beginning from 2024 if it receives
Incheon City's Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on May 17 that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of Cheongna G-Tech City at the G Tower in Songdo International City.The signing ceremony was attended by Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Incheon Free Econom
Taiwan’s TSMC, the No. 1 global foundry company, is reportedly planning to charge up to 30 percent more for semiconductors manufactured in the United States than those made in Taiwan. It remains to be seen if the prices of Samsung Electronics’ chips will be affected by this move.TSMC will reportedly
SK Geo Centric (“SKGC”) and Loop Industries (“Loop”), a clean technology company whose mission is to accelerate a circular plastics economy by manufacturing 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) plastic and polyester fiber, today announced they have signed a definitive Joint Venture Agree
The author is an analyst of NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at yk.choi@nhqv.com -- Ed.We view recently weak refining margins as excessively reflecting concerns toward slowing demand. We point out that global refinery capacity additions are limited, and exports from China have been on a
Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation announced on April 25 that 124 South Korean restaurant companies entered 35 overseas markets with 141 brands and 3,833 stores in the second half of last year. Compared to the same period of the previous year, the numbers of companies, brands and stores i
The Singapore gross refining margin fell to US$2.35 per barrel on April 20. This year, the margin has continued to fall from the January average of US$10.1. For reference, oil refining companies’ break-even point is US$4 to US$5 per barrel.In other words, companies’ profitability is seriously deteri
The author is an analyst of NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at jaemin.ahn@nhqv.com -- Ed.The investors we met with in Hong Kong and Singapore were cautious towards the Internet sector amid lingering uncertainties over the economic recovery. However, they were bullish towards the releas
Lotteria, a Korean hamburger franchise that opened in Korea in 1979, is focusing on expanding to overseas markets. The company is considering entering neighboring Singapore and Malaysia to capitalize on its success in the Vietnamese market where the Korean hamburger giant has enjoyed significant gro
Ballantine’s, the world’s number 2 Scotch whisky, and believers of investing in time, unveils its stunning new 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection; a precious series that will see the annual release over five years of five exceptional expressions of Ballantine’s 40 Year Old whisky.Serving as a tribut
SK Telecom announced on April 17 that it has signed an MOU with XON Studios in Korea and AUX Media, a virtual production company in Singapore, for virtual production technology development and business cooperation.AUX Media is a Singapore-based virtual production company that has presented various o
The IMF said in its report that South Korea’s national debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded the average of those of 10 advanced non-key currency countries for the first time in history.According to the IMF, the ratio of South Korea was 54.3 percent last year, when the average was 52 percent. According to the
The Korean e-commerce market is facing another big change. With Coupang’s dominance solidifying with its quarterly surplus, Qoo10, which owns Tmon and Interpark Commerce, took over WeMakePrice, reorganizing the Korean e-commerce market.According to sources in the Korean e-commerce industry on April
SK hynix has decided to issue exchangeable bonds (EBs) worth 2 trillion won abroad. The purpose of the issuance is to raise operating funds while a deficit is expected in the first quarter of this year following the fourth quarter of last year due to a prolonged slump in the semiconductor industry.S
SK Hynix will raise funds by issuing exchangeable bonds (EBs) worth US$1.5 billion (approximately 1.974 trillion won) in the Singaporean market.SK Hynix announced on March 3 that it will issue EBs with a seven-year maturity and interest rates of 1.25 to 1.75 percent. The proceeds from the EB issuanc
The Korea Institute of Science & Technology Evaluation and Planning announced that the number of South Korea’s SCI papers was 83,680 in 2021, up 8.9 percent from the previous year. It came in 12th with a global share of 2.4 percent.The 2021 list was topped by China, which rose to the top in 2020 and
The author is an analyset of NH Investment & Securities. He can be reached at esshim@nhqv.com -- Ed.H.PIO specializes in health functional food manufacturing and brand marketing. Denps, a premium brand, is expanding its product portfolio focusing on vitamin products. In addition to its solid main bu
The United Kingdom is expected to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on March 31. With China, Taiwan, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and other countries expected to join it, the members are trying to determine how to negotiate with China and Taiwan.The 11 members
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won visited China to attend the Boao Forum, which is sometimes called the Asian version of the Davos Forum.According to industry sources on March 28, Chairman Chey will participate in the Boao Forum held in Boao, Hainan Province of China for four days from March 28 to 31.
The Korea Enterprises Federation announced on March 16 that South Korea came in 15th out of 184 countries in the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom but it recorded a very low score in the category of freedom in the labor market.South Korea’s latest overall score in the annual index is 7