Journalist

Ryu Yuna, Lee Jung-woo, Kim Hee-su, and Joonha Yoo
  • Korean and foreign brokerages chant KOSPI 5,000 for next year
    Korean and foreign brokerages chant KOSPI 5,000 for next year SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI has hovered around the 4,000 level throughout December, entering a consolidation phase after a stunning rally that lifted the index 64 percent so far this year. But after catching its breath, the market may be setting its sights on the next psychological milestone — 5,000 — in 2026, according to a growing chorus of domestic and foreign brokerages. Among 11 local brokerages that have published 2026 outlooks, the average upper-end forecast stands at 4,979, while the average lower-end projection is 3,737. Roh Dong-gil, an analyst at Shinhan Investment & Securities, predicted that the Korean stock market will enter “an uncharted new world” next year, driven by structural expansion in corporate earnings. “Growth sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, secondary batteries, healthcare and renewable energy will lead earnings growth,” Roh said. KB Securities analyst Lee Eun-taek also forecast what he described as a “best-ever bull market,” contingent on government-led capital market reforms and a strengthening won reinforcing investor confidence. Foreign investment banks are even more bullish. JPMorgan expects the KOSPI to reach 5,000 next year, Citi sees it climbing to 5,500, while Macquarie has raised its target to 6,000. Talk of a 7,500 KOSPI has also entered market discourse. In a report released on Nov. 6, KB Securities set its 2025 target at 5,000, while outlining a long-term bull-case scenario of 7,500. The optimism is underpinned by expectations of a bumper year for South Korea’s memory chip industry, widely seen as the main engine of economic growth in 2025. Both domestic and global institutions have recently upgraded their growth forecasts for the Korean economy. Nomura raised its 2026 GDP growth projection to 2.3 percent from 1.9 percent, while the OECD forecasts 2.2 percent. The Korean government, the Korea Development Institute and the International Monetary Fund each project 1.8 percent growth, while the Korea Institute of Finance sees 2.1 percent. Earnings expectations for major chipmakers are fueling the bullish case. SK hynix’s operating profit is forecast at 74.65 trillion won ($50.66 billion) next year, up 75.2 percent from this year, while Samsung Electronics’ operating profit is projected to jump 114.4 percent to 83.24 trillion won. Together, the two firms are expected to drive aggregate earnings growth among KOSPI-listed companies in 2025. Additional tailwinds include strong earnings momentum in AI-related sectors, government-led capital market reforms, and expectations of dollar weakness amid declining global interest rates. Many strategists believe a liquidity-driven rally could begin next year as the U.S. Federal Reserve continues its easing cycle, having already cut rates three times this year. Samsung Securities, in particular, expects the share of pro-Trump policymakers within the Fed to increase, amplifying calls for further rate cuts. With Chair Jerome Powell’s term set to expire in May, the next Fed leadership could tilt toward a more growth-friendly stance aligned with former President Donald Trump’s policy preferences. Still, economists warn against excessive optimism. “Levels such as 6,000 or even 7,500, as projected by Macquarie or some local brokerages, represent the extreme end of bullish scenarios,” said Kim Dae-jong, a professor of business administration at Sejong University. “Such targets would require a synchronized combination of global liquidity easing, a semiconductor supercycle and effective policy reform,” he said. “KOSPI 5,000 is not simply about economic recovery,” Kim added. “It ultimately depends on how far corporate profit structures improve and how deeply capital market reforms take root.” 2025-12-15 17:52:28
  • Asian stocks slide as AI bubble talk resurfaces
    Asian stocks slide as AI bubble talk resurfaces SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Asian markets fell broadly on Monday following a retreat on Wall Street last Friday, as renewed concerns about an “AI bubble” weighed on sentiment after Broadcom shares tumbled 13 percent. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI was down 1.5 percent at 4,104.44, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ slipped 0.2 percent to 935.61 as of 10 a.m. Only seven of the 30 largest companies by market capitalization on the main board posted gains. Samsung Electronics fell 3.4 percent to 105,200 won ($71.2), and SK hynix slid 3.2 percent to 553,000 won. Hyundai Motor lost 1.8 percent to 296,000 won, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries declined 3.1 percent to 555,000 won. Doosan Enerbility sank 3.4 percent to 77,000 won, Kia retreated 1.2 percent to 124,300 won, KB Financial slipped 0.8 percent to 125,100 won, and Hanwha Aerospace lost 3.8 percent to 925,000 won. Among gainers, LG Energy Solution edged up 0.2 percent to 446,500 won, while Samsung Biologics jumped 4.2 percent to 1,763,000 won. Korea Zinc, ranked 20th by market capitalization, was the biggest riser among the top 100 KOSPI stocks, surging 10.6 percent to 1,679,000 won. Local media attributed the rally to reports that the firm plans to build a 10 trillion-won ($6.77 billion) smelter in the United States, with more than 1 trillion won in combined investments from the U.S. government and private companies. Shares of the “Big Four” K-pop agencies all fell more than 1 percent. Hybe dropped 1.3 percent to 295,500 won, JYP Entertainment slid 1.3 percent to 67,300 won, SM Entertainment fell 2.1 percent to 101,600 won, and YG Entertainment declined 2.4 percent to 62,100 won. From Monday, the Korea Exchange (KRX) will temporarily lower its stock trading fees for two months, until Feb. 13 next year. The fee for limit orders will be set at 0.00134 percent and the fee for market orders at 0.00182 percent, representing a reduction of about 20 percent to 40 percent from current rates. The move is widely seen as an effort to align the KRX’s fee structure with that of Nextrade (NXT), which charges 0.00134 percent for limit orders and 0.00182 percent for market orders. Launched on March 4, Nextrade is South Korea’s first alternative trading system (ATS) and the only competitor to the Korea Exchange. Within three quarters of its launch, Nextrade posted its first cumulative operating profit. As of the end of October, its average daily trading volume over the previous six months reached 15.66 percent of the KRX’s average daily volume over the same period, surpassing the so-called “15 percent rule.” While the Korea Exchange can decide on short-term fee adjustments or exemptions of up to three months on its own, extending such measures beyond that period requires a review by the Financial Services Commission. In Japan, the Nikkei 225 fell 1.3 percent to 50,183.19. Toyota Motor rose 1.9 percent to 3,321 yen ($21.4), while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group gained 1.2 percent to 2,528.5 yen. SoftBank Group, the fourth-largest stock by market value, tumbled 7.2 percent to 16,600 yen. The Nikkei newspaper reported on Sunday that in the Kansai region, where economic ties with China are strong, bus tours and hotel reservations have been canceled in succession, hurting department store sales. It added that concerns are also spreading to the Tohoku and Hokkaido tourism sectors as the situation appears likely to drag on. The ongoing Japan-China spat has led to fewer Chinese tourists, though some analysts say the disruption could benefit Japan’s tourism industry in the long run. Teikoku Databank said the impact of travel advisories remains limited and could present an opportunity to tap alternative sources of demand. In China, the Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.2 percent to 3,881.72, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.9 percent to 25,754.06. 2025-12-15 13:50:37
  • HOT STOCK: Korea Zinc soars on reports of $6.8 bn US smelter investment
    HOT STOCK: Korea Zinc soars on reports of $6.8 bn US smelter investment SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Shares of Korea Zinc Co., currently under a hostile takeover bid, jumped more than 11 percent Monday amid reports that the company is considering a 10 trillion won ($6.77 billion) investment to build a smelter in the United States. Korea Zinc shares rose as high as 1,914,000 won and closed at 1,592,000 won, up 4.9 percent from previous finish. Korea Zinc, the world's largest non-ferrous smelting company, is holding a board meeting and is expected to announce its decision later Monday following a vote by directors. According to industry sources, the company is pursuing a joint venture in the United States, inviting the U.S. government and local companies as partners. Washington reportedly approached Korea Zinc as part of its efforts to secure strategic mineral supplies following China's move in October to weaponize rare-earth exports. The plan has drawn strong opposition from Young Poong Group and MBK Partners, which are pursuing a hostile takeover of Korea Zinc. The two investors criticized the U.S. investment plan, arguing that it "goes against national interests by compromising the zinc business to defend Chairman Choi Yun Birm's personal management rights." They warned that the project could hollow out South Korea's domestic smelting industry and heighten the risk of leaks involving core technologies. Under the proposed structure, the U.S. Commerce and Defense Departments, along with American defense contractors, would invest about $690 million in the joint venture. If Korea Zinc issues new shares to the JV, the U.S. partners are expected to acquire roughly a 10 percent stake. The remaining 7 trillion won ($4.74 billion) would be financed equally by the U.S. government and JPMorgan, through loans guaranteed by Korea Zinc, according to the sources. If approved, the deal would position Korea Zinc as a key partner in Washington's push to build a rare-earth supply chain independent of China. Direct equity participation by the U.S. government in a Korean private company would mark the formal launch of a "strategic resources alliance" between Seoul and Washington aimed at countering China’s dominance in global rare-earth production. Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yun Birm was included in the business delegation accompanying President Lee Jae Myung during his state visit to the United States in August. 2025-12-15 11:29:25
  • K-literature pipeline filled with next Han Kang candidates
    K-literature pipeline filled with next Han Kang candidates SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Han Kang's 2024 Nobel Prize has helped revive an almost-dead reading, literature and publishing community. Bookstores have regained life, and this year’s pipeline is rich with hopes of sustaining the Han Kang momentum. AJP introduces three potential post-Han candidates whose translated works have drawn overseas attention after publication and gained critical acclaim through major awards. Chung Bora “My grandfather used to say, ‘When we make our cursed fetishes, it’s important that they’re pretty.’” – from “Cursed Bunny” by Chung Bora. A tale of a rabbit figurine made as a cursed object that brings ruin to three generations of a vicious business family. The revenge of a fox against the human who exploited her. A world consumed by a plague that drives people to eat human flesh. And a woman seeking the man who will become the father of her child conceived without sex. Known for her horror and fantasy fiction, Chung Bora’s work brims with a critical gaze toward gendered violence, capitalism, patriarchy and the social construction of normalcy, as well as inexhaustible imaginative power. Chung, who began publishing fiction in 1998, remained a relatively obscure figure in South Korea until “Cursed Bunny” gained international acclaim. She nonetheless continued to write steadily. Her background is unusual. Chung is both a novelist and a translator of Russian and Polish works into Korean, as well as a professor of Russian language and literature. She studied Russian and English literature at Yonsei University, earned her master’s degree in Russian and East European Studies at Yale University, and received her PhD in Slavic Literature from Indiana University. “Cursed Bunny” was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize and the 2022 National Book Award for Translated Literature. Rights to the collection have been sold in 22 countries. In 2024, Chung received the Leipzig Book Fair Prize in Germany for this book. The 2023 National Book Award judges called “Cursed Bunny” “eerie, unsettling, and wildly imaginative, delving into the crevices of the psyche and the fissures of society, excavating tales that range from the uncanny to the downright horrifying,” describing it further as “thrilling and thought-provoking.” Her 2024 work “Your Utopia” was shortlisted for the Philip K. Dick Award, one of the world’s three major science fiction honors. Chung became the first Korean writer to be nominated and the only translated work among the six finalists. “Your Utopia” was published in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and India, and was selected by Time magazine as one of its “Books of the Year” in 2024. Kim Choyeop An android, fitted with synthetic skin indistinguishable from that of a human, decides to replace it once again with metal. The story of a member of an alien species born with two distinct selves in one body. SF author Kim Choyeop, one of South Korea’s most prominent contemporary writers, also has a striking background. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), often called “the Caltech of Korea” and one of Asia’s top science and technology institutions. Kim is also hearing-impaired. She made her debut in 2017 at the age of 24, winning both the Grand Prize and a Special Award in the short and mid-length fiction categories at the Korean Science Literature Awards. Her short story collection “If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light” and her novel “The Greenhouse at the End of the Earth” have each sold over 200,000 copies in Korea. Rights to “If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light” have been sold to Japan, China, Taiwan and Spain, while “The Greenhouse at the End of the Earth” was acquired for over two million yen by major Japanese SF publisher Hayakawa at the time of release. The book has been sold to publishers in six countries and is set for film adaptation. Reports last year revealed she had signed a multimillion-dollar deal with a U.S. publisher. The short story “Spectrum”, from “If We Cannot Go at the Speed of Light”, is being adapted into an SF film directed by “House of Hummingbird” filmmaker Kim Bora. Kim is a prolific writer. In 2021 alone, she published four books, including her second short story collection “The World We Just Left Behind”, the micro-fiction collection “Planetary Language Bookshop”, and the full-length novel “The Greenhouse at the End of the Earth”, which was first released as a limited edition for members before general publication the following year. She also wrote the nonfiction book “Becoming Cyborg”, exploring the relationship between disability and technology. Online bookstore Aladin named her “Author of the Year” in 2021 based on a poll of publishers. Cheon Seon-ran A romance between a lonely human and a vampire. A post-apocalyptic world ravaged after the invasion of an alien species, half-goat and half-demon. SF writer Cheon Seon-ran made her debut in 2019, winning the Grand Prize in the novel category of the Korean Science Literature Awards. Her best-known work, “A Thousand Blues” (2020), is a science fiction novel set in South Korea in 2035. In a near future where humanoid robots have become commonplace, a jockey robot named Coli — born with a cognition chip by chance — sacrifices itself for Today, a racehorse whose cartilage is crumbling. The story follows Coli as it meets three women and explores themes of friendship and coexistence among humans, robots and animals. Critics have praised the novel for its warmth and empathy. “A Thousand Blues” has sold more than 200,000 copies in Korea. Publishing rights have been sold to more than ten countries, including the United States (Penguin Random House), Germany, the UK, Japan, Taiwan and China. The novel is also being adapted into a Hollywood film. “A Thousand Blues” has been optioned by Warner Bros. Pictures, the global studio behind the “Harry Potter” and “Dune” series. While the precise value of the deal has not been disclosed, reports indicate that Cheon will receive between 600 million and 700 million won ($406,000–$474,000) for the adaptation rights. 2025-12-12 17:34:23
  • KOSPI tops 4,150 as Dow hits record high
    KOSPI tops 4,150 as Dow hits record high SEOUL, December 12 (AJP) - Asian stocks in early Friday session tracked the mixed overnight performance in the United States, where the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit another record high even as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq slipped. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI rose 1.1 percent to 4,154.47, while the KOSDAQ edged up 0.2 percent to 936.76 as of 9:49 a.m. Institutional investors led the market with 302 billion won ($205 million) in net purchases. Foreign investors sold 64.8 billion won, and retail investors offloaded 235.6 billion won. Most heavyweights advanced. Samsung Electronics gained 0.8 percent to 108,100 won, and SK hynix rose 2 percent to 576,000 won. Samsung Biologics added 1 percent, Hyundai Motor climbed 1.7 percent, and Kia gained 1.6 percent. Hanwha Aerospace jumped 4.8 percent to 947,000 won, while KB Financial Group rose 1 percent. LG Energy Solution slipped 0.9 percent to 442,000 won. One of the sharpest moves came from Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, which plunged 22 percent to 491,500 won after surging 28 percent the previous day. Analysts attributed the volatility to short-term flows triggered by Samsung Group–linked ETFs increasing the insurer’s weighting during rebalancing. Entertainment stocks posted modest gains: HYBE rose 1.7 percent, JYP Entertainment 0.3 percent, SM Entertainment 0.1 percent, and YG Entertainment 0.5 percent. On the KOSDAQ, top-cap Alteogen fell 4.3 percent, while newly listed QuadMedicine surged 47 percent to 22,050 won, far above its IPO price of 15,000 won. Overnight in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 1.3 percent to a record 48,704.01. The S&P 500 inched up 0.2 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.3 percent. Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.7 percent to 50,500.23. All five of Japan’s top-cap stocks were higher: Toyota surged 3 percent, Mitsubishi UFJ rose 2 percent, Sony and SoftBank Group both added 0.9 percent, and Hitachi climbed 2.6 percent. Nintendo rose 2.4 percent and Honda advanced 1.2 percent. Expectations are strengthening for a Bank of Japan rate hike at its December 19 meeting. A Nikkei survey released Thursday showed all 29 economists polled anticipate a move to 0.75 percent, which would mark Japan’s first policy rate above 0.5 percent since 1995. In China, the Shanghai Composite slipped 0.5 percent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index rose 0.7 percent. Xinhua reported that the Central Economic Work Conference, chaired by President Xi Jinping earlier this week, called for more proactive fiscal policy, a moderately accommodative monetary stance, and a renewed emphasis on boosting domestic demand next year. The closed-door meeting sets China’s economic policy direction for the coming year. 2025-12-12 11:38:42
  • Seoul aims to correct misunderstanding in public policy with live government briefings
    Seoul aims to correct "misunderstanding" in public policy with live government briefings SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - South Korean bureaucrats are often “misunderstood” as lazy or corrupt, but if such perceptions reflected reality, the country could never have advanced to the level admired by much of the world, President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday as he addressed government officials at the Sejong Government Complex for the first time since taking office in June. Again for the first time, each ministry and public office’s briefing to the president was broadcast live. “There is no need to be nervous. This will be fun,” Lee said, speaking casually to stone-faced senior officials appearing before the president and cameras. Koo Yun-cheol, deputy prime minister for the economy, reported that the government aims to lift Korea’s potential growth rate above 1.8 percent next year, emphasizing policies designed to spur corporate investment. Lee also ordered faster progress from a task force dedicated to “rationalizing punishment for economic wrongdoings,” arguing that Korean criminal law too often penalizes working-level employees rather than primary beneficiaries of misconduct. “Somewhere called ‘pang’ has broken regulations this time,” he said, referring obliquely to Coupang, which is under investigation after a massive data breach affecting more than 30 million users. Lee said such irregularities persist because penalties remain weak. Ahead of the session, ministries received internal guidelines stating that briefings would be “principally live-streamed, with Deputy Minister and Director General-level officials in attendance, and exceptions for non-disclosure made only when necessary—for example, on diplomatic or security grounds.” The televised format is part of the presidential office’s broader push toward what it describes as “discussion-based and participatory governance.” The shift has changed work rhythms in both Seoul and Sejong. Weekend work has become routine, officials say, as ministries prepare for live policy briefings. Senior officials at the Director-General level and above, who may be questioned directly by the president, are memorizing data and rehearsing answers to anticipated questions. Many are making extra efforts to avoid misstatements or hesitation in front of both the president and the public. This year’s briefing also breaks bureaucratic precedent. Such sessions are traditionally held at the start of the year, but the administration opted to convene the meeting at year’s end as part of its transparency initiative. The live-briefing series spans 19 ministries, five departments, 18 agencies, seven commissions, and 228 public institutions, along with six related organizations, including the Financial Supervisory Service. Sessions will rotate between Seoul, Sejong, and Busan in the coming weeks. 2025-12-11 16:50:46
  • Asian markets respond lukewarmly to Feds widely expected rate cut
    Asian markets respond lukewarmly to Fed's widely expected rate cut SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Asian markets reacted lukewarmly to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s widely expected rate cut on Thursday, underscoring lingering uncertainty over the future path of U.S. interest rates. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI gained 0.7 percent to 4,162.51 and the KOSDAQ advanced 0.3 percent to 937.79 as of 9:40 a.m. As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee lowered the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.50–3.75 percent overnight. With the December move largely priced in, investors shifted their focus to the Fed’s forward guidance and comments from Chair Jerome Powell. Han Ji-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said the outcome was “less hawkish than the market feared.” Powell indicated that the current rate is near the upper end of the Fed’s estimate of a neutral range, a remark investors took as leaving room for further cuts. In Seoul, Samsung Electronics rose 1.5 percent to 109,600 won ($74.6), while SK hynix edged down 0.5 percent to 584,000 won. Other gainers included Samsung Biologics, up 1 percent to 1,681,000 won; Hyundai Motor, up 1 percent to 305,500 won; Kia, up 0.8 percent to 124,400 won; Doosan Enerbility, up 1.2 percent to 77,700 won; KB Financial, up 1.8 percent to 126,700 won; Celltrion, up 1.4 percent to 188,300 won; and Samsung C&T, up 2.6 percent to 254,000 won. On the downside, LG Energy Solution fell 0.4 percent to 439,750 won, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries slipped 0.5 percent to 568,000 won, and Hanwha Aerospace declined 1.3 percent to 911,000 won. The KOSDAQ index advanced, but its three largest constituents by market capitalization all declined. Altigen, the largest, fell 0.7 percent to 453,500 won; EcoProBM, the second largest, dropped 1.8 percent to 176,200 won; and ABL Bio, the third largest, slipped 0.5 percent to 202,000 won. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1 percent to 50,645.57. Among major stocks by market capitalization, Toyota, the largest, rose 0.6 percent to 3,134 yen ($20). Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, the second largest, added 0.2 percent to 2,473.5 yen; Hitachi, the fifth largest, rose 0.2 percent to 4,897 yen; Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the sixth largest, gained 0.8 percent to 4,898 yen; Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo and the seventh largest, was up 0.3 percent to 56,260 yen; Advantest, the eighth largest, climbed 3.9 percent to 20,935 yen; and Itochu, the tenth largest, advanced 1.4 percent to 9,669 yen. Sony Group, the third largest, slipped 0.5 percent to 4,161 yen. SoftBank Group, the fourth largest, dropped 5.1 percent to 17,710 yen, while Tokyo Electron, the ninth largest, fell 1 percent to 32,800 yen. China’s Shanghai Composite Index inched down 0.02 percent, or 0.67 points, to 3,899.83. 2025-12-11 11:39:08
  • Asian markets hardly move ahead of Fed decision
    Asian markets hardly move ahead of Fed decision SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Asian markets barely budged Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision. In Seoul, the KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 4,135.00, extending its decline for a second session this week, while the KOSDAQ gained 0.4 percent to 935.00. Institutional investors unloaded 344.3 billion won ($234 million), offset by 296.4 billion won in foreign buying and 18.6 billion won from retail investors. Samsung Electronics fell 0.4 percent to 108,000 won ($73.4), but SK hynix jumped 3.7 percent to 587,000 won as foreign investors piled in following reports that the chipmaker is considering listing its treasury shares as American depositary receipts in the United States. An ADR allows U.S. investors to trade foreign stocks through certificates issued by a U.S. depository institution. Samsung SDI added 2.4 percent to 317,500 won after reports it had secured a battery supply deal worth about 2 trillion won ($1.36 billion) in the U.S. But most other large caps weakened. LG Energy Solution slipped 0.5 percent to 441,500 won, Hyundai Motor fell 1.5 percent to 302,500 won, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries eased 1 percent to 571,000 won, Hanwha Aerospace sank 3.9 percent to 923,000 won and Naver dropped 1.4 percent to 244,500 won. Entertainment stocks rose across the board, with HYBE up 2.8 percent to 299,000 won, SM Entertainment up 2.2 percent to 103,800 won, JYP Entertainment gaining 0.2 percent to 67,900 won and YG Entertainment rising 0.7 percent to 62,200 won. The Fed is widely expected to cut its target rate range — now at 3.75 percent to 4.00 percent — by 25 basis points. Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched down 0.1 percent to 50,602.80. Toyota Motor rose 1.6 percent to 3,116 yen ($19.9), while Honda Motor climbed 3.3 percent to 1,575.5 yen. But most other market heavyweights slipped: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group fell 0.7 percent, SoftBank Group lost 0.7 percent, Sony Group dropped 2.9 percent and Hitachi dipped 0.5 percent. Nintendo retreated 2.7 percent, while Canon gained 2.1 percent. Bloomberg reported that Osaka — Japan’s second-largest economic hub and long a beneficiary of Chinese tourist inflows — is now facing sharp fallout from the slump in Chinese visitors. The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau said hotel cancellation rates have reached 50 to 70 percent, with Namba, the city’s main entertainment district, hit the hardest. Luxury spending by Chinese tourists is projected to fall to $40 million to $60 million per month, about half previous levels. China’s Shanghai Composite Index edged down 0.2 percent to 3,900.50. Nomura’s chief China economist Ting Lu warned this week that Beijing must face the depth of its property-sector debt woes as export growth is expected to slow to around 4 percent next year. Lu expects the government to lower its official growth target from about 5 percent to 4.5–5.0 percent in 2026. Nomura projects China’s GDP will expand 4.3 percent in 2026. 2025-12-10 17:16:44
  • Year-end IPO buzz in Seoul preludes brisk H1 2026
    Year-end IPO buzz in Seoul preludes brisk H1 2026 SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea’s IPO market, dormant for much of the year, is ending 2025 in a surprising burst of activity, with 10 companies going public in December alone. The pattern runs counter to the usual cycle, where listings cluster in the first half and taper off as investors and bankers wind down for the holidays. Instead, this December has emerged as the busiest in recent years, up from six IPOs in both 2023 and 2024. The reason is simple: demand is hot. Of the 12 companies that debuted on the KOSPI and KOSDAQ since October, eight more than doubled their IPO price on day one — a performance that has revived optimism across the primary market. AimedBio, which listed on Dec. 4, quadrupled its IPO price in intraday trading and briefly ranked 19th in KOSDAQ market capitalization, the highest among this year’s newcomers. As of 2:24 p.m. Wednesday, its shares were trading at 47,750 won ($32.5), placing the biotech firm 20th on the index. TeraView, which went public Tuesday, also doubled its IPO price and hit the daily upper limit of 20,800 won on Wednesday, after closing its debut session at 16,000 won — twice the offering price of 8,000 won. The Cambridge-based firm is the first British company to list on KOSDAQ, providing advanced inspection equipment used across multiple industries. Another new entrant, Pescaro, surged to 47,000 won shortly after its Wednesday debut — nearly triple its offering price of 15,500 won — and closed at 27,100 won, up 74.8 percent from its IPO price. The company specializes in integrated vehicle security platforms. More listings are scheduled this week. Aegis, a Daegu-based digital platform company that creates “digital earth” replicas of the physical world, will debut Thursday after pricing its IPO at the top of the range, 15,000 won. On Friday, Quadmedicine, a medical technology company focused on microneedle platforms for transdermal drug delivery, will enter the market. Next week brings another packed slate: TMC on Dec. 15, Acryl on Dec. 16, Naraspace Technology on Dec. 17, and Algenomics on Dec. 18. Capping the year is one of the most anticipated offerings, Semifive, slated to list on Dec. 29. The design solutions company enables clients to accelerate custom semiconductor development through automation-enabled design infrastructure and proprietary IP. Analysts expect Semifive to be among the most significant KOSDAQ debuts of 2025. Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Park Jong-seon said global demand for customized ASICs — especially for artificial intelligence — is beginning to surge, and noted that Semifive differentiates itself through design experience with major tech firms and strong platform capabilities. The momentum is likely to carry into early 2026. The pipeline includes heavyweight candidates such as Musinsa, Goodai Global, Olive Young, and K-Bank, pointing to a brisk first half as Korea’s capital markets regain their appetite for new listings. 2025-12-10 15:59:23
  • Asian stocks mostly flat ahead of FOMC as caution builds
    Asian stocks mostly flat ahead of FOMC as caution builds SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Asian stocks were largely unchanged on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.3 percent to 4,143.55, while the KOSDAQ added 0.4 percent to 931.35. Market sentiment was subdued as traders awaited the outcome of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting beginning Tuesday U.S. time, where policymakers will decide the December rate move. The KOSPI retreated after two sessions of gains, dragged lower by heavyweight tech shares Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Samsung slid 0.9 percent to 108,400 won ($73.8), and SK hynix dropped 1.9 percent to 566,000 won. LG Energy Solution, the third-largest stock by market cap, fell 1.8 percent to 443,500 won. Autos also weakened. Hyundai Motor declined 2.7 percent to 307,000 won, Kia slipped 1.4 percent to 123,800 won, and KB Financial Group lost 1.5 percent to 126,000 won. Entertainment stocks were mixed to slightly higher. HYBE rose 0.7 percent to 291,000 won, JYP Entertainment edged up 0.3 percent to 67,800 won, and YG Entertainment added 0.5 percent to 61,800 won, while SM Entertainment dipped 0.4 percent to 101,600 won. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1 percent to 50,655.10 as large-cap shares moved unevenly. Toyota Motor, the index’s biggest constituent, rose 0.2 percent to 3,066 yen ($19.6), and SoftBank Group gained 0.8 percent to 18,800 yen. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group slipped 0.5 percent to 2,486 yen, and Nintendo tumbled 3.4 percent to 11,900 yen. Canon climbed 1.3 percent to 4,635 yen, and Panasonic Holdings advanced 1.5 percent to 1,886.5 yen. NHK on Monday released a survey of 1,192 adults showing that 54 percent were concerned that China–Japan tensions could negatively affect the Japanese economy—14 percent saying they were “very worried” and 40 percent “somewhat worried.” In China, the Shanghai Composite Index fell 0.4 percent to 3,909.52. China’s exports rose more than expected in November, according to customs data released Monday. Shipments increased 5.9 percent from a year earlier to $330.35 billion, beating economists’ forecasts of a 3.8 percent gain in a Reuters poll and 4 percent in a Bloomberg survey. The country’s trade surplus for January–November reached $1.08 trillion, topping the $1 trillion mark for the first time on record. Some Chinese economists say the surplus is now too large and is weighing on domestic demand. Zhang Jun, dean of the School of Economics at Fudan University, said in a recent speech that China should consider narrowing the surplus—and even running a deficit in the long term—to stimulate consumption. 2025-12-09 17:37:36