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Hana Securities Raises S-Oil Target Price Amid Record Profit Expectations Hana Securities has raised its target price for S-Oil from 200,000 won to 220,000 won, citing the company's potential to achieve record operating profits this year. The investment recommendation remains a 'buy.'In a report released on August 4, analyst Yoon Jae-sung stated, "This is still a conservative level compared to the peak price-to-book ratio (PBR) of 2.5 times during the previous boom in 2018."Yoon identified three key factors contributing to the positive momentum for the second half of the year: an increase in lubricant oil profits, the continuation of negative official selling prices (OSP), and stabilization of oil prices. He explained, "The momentum for the second half is driven by three factors. First, the additional profit increase from lubricant oils. The Qatar Shell Pearl GTL Train 2 is expected to be fully operational by the end of the first quarter of 2027, making strong lubricant oil prices inevitable until then."He also noted, "The confirmation of the negative OSP phase indicates that the OSP for September is expected to remain in negative territory, similar to August." Furthermore, he analyzed that stabilization of oil prices could serve as a good trigger for generating higher profits through the lifting of domestic price caps.The forecast for third-quarter earnings has also been significantly raised. Yoon estimated that S-Oil's operating profit for the third quarter will reach 1.08 trillion won, an increase from the initial estimate of 490 billion won and 71% higher than the current consensus of 630 billion won.Additionally, he projected that lubricant oil operating profits would improve significantly to 680 billion won, reflecting a 17% increase in the export price of lubricant oils in July compared to the previous month, along with a 29% rise in export margins.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:40:20 -
U.S. Market Gains and Easing Tensions in the Middle East Raise Hopes for KOSPI Recovery On August 4, the KOSPI is expected to rebound, buoyed by the previous day's gains in the U.S. stock market and easing tensions in the Middle East.On August 3, all three major U.S. stock indices closed higher. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 693.38 points (1.32%) to finish at 53,178.41, marking a record closing high. The S&P 500 increased by 110.78 points (1.48%) to close at 7,600.50, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 540.04 points (2.13%) to end at 25,913.90.Investor sentiment was lifted by expectations of reduced military tensions in the Middle East after President Donald Trump announced a postponement of additional airstrikes against Iran.Notably, technology stocks, particularly in the semiconductor sector, led the market rally. Meta surged by 6.02%, Alphabet rose by 4.88%, and Microsoft increased by 4.93%. Amazon jumped 4.58%, reaching a new all-time high, following a strong second-quarter earnings report that exceeded market expectations, driven by growth in its cloud business (AWS) and increased demand for AI.Han Ji-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities, stated, "The validation of AI monetization through software will serve as a positive factor for the domestic market." This has raised expectations for a rebound in semiconductor stocks in the domestic market.According to the Korea Exchange, on August 3, the KOSPI closed at 6,257.45, down 338.00 points (5.12%) from the previous trading day. In the stock market, individual investors made a record net purchase of 4.6531 trillion won, but foreign and institutional investors sold a net 2.8429 trillion won and 1.9477 trillion won, respectively, pulling the index down.One analyst noted, "There is a persistent perception of overselling following the sharp declines in July and the previous day." He added, "With the easing of oil prices and interest rates due to Trump's TACO policy, along with a rebound in U.S. semiconductor stocks, we expect a bullish trend to emerge." He also remarked, "While daily return volatility remains high, it is positive that we are moving away from a phase of declining profit momentum."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:40:00
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Korea Smart Tourism Association Elects New President Lee Il-joo The Korea Smart Tourism Association has elected Lee Il-joo, CEO of Global Alliance, as its new president for the fourth term.The association announced on August 4 that it held a special general meeting on July 13 at the Seoul Tourism Foundation's Citizen Academy Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the new leadership team was elected.Following a vote, Lee Il-joo was chosen as the new president. Alongside him, Kim Kyu-hyung and Lee Jong-hoon (CEO of Spatial Core) were appointed as vice presidents. The new leadership team will begin their two-year term this month.In his remarks, President Lee stated, "The issues and trends in the tourism industry are changing rapidly. It is a crucial time for networking among member companies. I will focus on expanding the association's outreach and increasing business opportunities for our members."During the special general meeting, the association also discussed amendments to its bylaws, which will lead to the registration of new corporate officers and changes to the bylaws.Founded on July 15, 2020, the association is a non-profit organization with around 100 member companies. Its members include traditional tourism businesses, online travel platforms, smart tourism solution providers, tourism product distribution and sales companies, tourism content firms, smart mobility companies, and food and beverage-related businesses.The association is currently engaged in various initiatives aimed at creating a smart tourism ecosystem, including networking among tourism companies, collaboration with local governments, hosting seminars and forums, supporting startup acceleration and mergers and acquisitions, and proposing policies and conducting research.An association official remarked, "Since our inception, we have actively engaged with over 100 member companies, and we expect that the new leadership will further enhance the association's activities both internally and externally."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:40:00
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What the U.S. Aims to Protect Is Not the Yen The international financial market often moves in unexpected ways. It can be difficult to find answers when only looking at visible phenomena. The recent collaboration between the United States and Japan to defend the value of the yen is no exception. Many believe the U.S. stepped in to assist its ally Japan. However, financial markets operate differently from diplomacy. The most important principle in international finance is always the protection of one's own interests. This recent action is more accurately viewed as a choice made to safeguard the U.S. itself rather than support for Japan.Recently, the yen has fallen to its lowest level in 40 years. To defend its currency, the Japanese government requires a substantial amount of dollars. The problem is that the easiest way to obtain those dollars is by selling U.S. Treasury bonds. Japan is one of the largest holders of U.S. Treasury bonds in the world. If Japan were to sell a large volume of bonds in the market, bond prices would likely drop, and long-term interest rates would surge.A rise in long-term interest rates would place significant pressure on the U.S. economy. The cost of financing for businesses would increase, and mortgage rates would rise. The U.S. government, already grappling with a massive fiscal deficit, would also have to issue bonds at higher rates. Ultimately, Japan's currency defense could lead to instability in the U.S. financial market.This is where the FIMA Repo (Repurchase Agreement) program introduced by the U.S. Federal Reserve comes into play. While the name may be unfamiliar, the principle is straightforward. Instead of selling U.S. Treasury bonds, Japan can use them as collateral to borrow the necessary dollars from the Federal Reserve. This allows Japan to secure dollars without liquidating its bonds, while the U.S. can prevent a flood of selling in the bond market. Although it appears to support Japan's currency defense, it actually serves as a safeguard for the U.S. Treasury market.A key point to note is the shift in U.S. financial policy. In the past, macroeconomic policies such as interest rate adjustments or quantitative easing were central to addressing crises. Now, providing liquidity to absorb risks before market shocks occur is becoming increasingly important. The FIMA Repo is a prime example of this approach. It aims to reduce the likelihood of market disruptions rather than responding after they happen.Of course, this program is not a panacea for all problems. U.S. long-term interest rates are influenced by numerous variables, including inflation, the Federal Reserve's monetary policy, fiscal deficits, the volume of bond issuance, and global investor demand. It cannot be assumed that the FIMA Repo alone will stabilize long-term interest rates. However, it can be expected to alleviate financial market anxiety by preventing a sudden sell-off of Treasury bonds.This situation also has significant implications for us. South Korea is an open economy sensitive to changes in U.S. interest rates and exchange rates. If U.S. long-term interest rates fluctuate, it can alter the flow of foreign capital and impact the won-dollar exchange rate. The domestic bond and stock markets are not immune to these changes. To understand exchange rates, one must now look beyond just the foreign exchange market; it has become essential to also consider movements in the U.S. Treasury market.This case illustrates the essence of international finance once again. While nations may speak of alliances, finance calculates interests. The reason the U.S. assisted Japan ultimately was to protect the U.S. economy and the dollar system. The reality that even a country with the world's reserve currency prioritizes the stability of its Treasury market underscores the immense power of financial markets.International finance is always a game of foresight. One must read not only the immediate exchange rates but also the bonds behind them, the dollars behind those bonds, and the U.S. strategy behind the dollars. The FIMA Repo is not merely a liquidity provision mechanism; it represents a new defensive strategy chosen by the U.S. to maintain its financial hegemony and symbolizes the direction in which today's global financial order is moving. Only by understanding the intentions of the U.S. behind the yen can we truly grasp the flow of international finance.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:36:00
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UPDATE: Korea's July inflation under 3% for the first time in 3 months *Updated with additional data and market response SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - South Korea's consumer inflation slowed below 3 percent for the first time in three months in July as softer imported energy prices and subdued consumer demand offset persistent underlying price pressures, government data showed Tuesday. The consumer price index stood at 119.77, up 2.8 percent from a year earlier, slowing from 3.2 percent in June, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The KOSPI opened Tuesday 1.3 percent higher and the KOSDAQ 3.7 percent, while the Korean won weakened to 1,432.50 won. Bond data are yet to be posted. The moderation was driven largely by electricity and petroleum product prices, which fell 11.0 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively, from the previous month. Government-imposed fuel price caps helped reduce headline inflation by about 0.3 percentage point, according to a separate finance Ministry statement. The living necessities index, which tracks frequently purchased goods and services, slowed sharply to 2.5 percent from 3.4 percent in June, reflecting weaker household spending as consumers continued to grapple with elevated prices. Underlying inflation, however, remained firm. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.4 percent from the previous month and 2.6 percent from a year earlier, accelerating from 2.5 percent in June to its highest level since December 2023. Service prices increased 2.6 percent from a year earlier, while personal service prices rose 3.5 percent. Personal services excluding dining out climbed 4.1 percent, suggesting higher import costs continued to filter through to consumers. Personal services contributed 1.19 percentage points to headline inflation, the largest contribution among the major expenditure categories Despite their monthly decline, petroleum product prices remained 15.5 percent higher than a year earlier, while transport costs climbed 7.7 percent, the sharpest increase among the major spending categories. The finance Ministry warned that a statistical base effect from temporary mobile-phone fee discounts a year earlier could add about 0.8 percentage point to August inflation. It also cited renewed uncertainty in the Middle East as an upside risk to prices. 2026-08-04 08:31:59 -
AI Revolutionizes Tourism Content Creation with New Training Program As generative artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly spreads in the tourism content creation sector, practical training programs are increasing. The Seoul Tourism Foundation announced on August 4 that it will hold the 'Seoul Tourism AI Content Creation Course' on the 24th, inviting participants to apply.Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the 14th.This training will focus on how to utilize generative AI in actual content production. Participants will learn step-by-step processes for content creation, including idea planning and prompt writing using AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, as well as generating images and music and mobile-based video editing.The course will also introduce how generative AI is being utilized in the tourism sector and the latest technological trends. Emphasizing practical experience over theoretical instruction, the program aims to enhance participants' capabilities for immediate application in the field.Following this course, the foundation plans to offer advanced training for participants to plan and produce their own tourism content. The goal is to provide a comprehensive experience of the entire content creation process through subsequent programs, thereby enhancing practical skills. Details about the training schedule and application methods can be found on the Seoul Tourism Foundation's website.To support content creation, the 'Seoul Tourism Plaza Creative Membership' is also available year-round. Individuals involved in tourism-related organizations, travel creators, and those interested in video content production can join. Members receive benefits, including one free monthly use of the Seoul Tourism Plaza Online Media Center studio.In the first half of this year, the Seoul Tourism Foundation conducted 15 digital content creation training sessions for tourism professionals, university students, international students, and job seekers, with a total of 184 participants. The average satisfaction rating for the training was 4.89 out of 5. Additionally, 57 new members joined the Online Media Center Creative Membership, continuing to support content creation activities after the training.Lee Soo-taek, head of the Planning and Management Division at the Seoul Tourism Foundation, stated, "Generative AI is a key technology rapidly transforming the tourism content creation environment. We will continue to nurture digital content talent in the tourism sector centered around the Seoul Tourism Plaza, equipped with professional equipment and training programs."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:28:00
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Samsung Electronics Introduces HDR10+ Advanced Technology for Amazon Prime Video Samsung Electronics has applied its next-generation video technology, HDR10+ Advanced, to Amazon Prime Video. This move aims to enhance the picture quality of premium TVs by utilizing maximum brightness and color expression while delivering smooth motion for fast-paced content.On August 4, Samsung announced its collaboration with Amazon to implement HDR10+ Advanced in Prime Video content. The company plans to support this technology starting with its 2026 TV models and will gradually expand the range of compatible products.HDR10+ Advanced features new capabilities, including 'Enhanced Brightness' for scene-specific brightness adjustments and 'Intelligent Motion Compensation' to correct screen motion.Enhanced Brightness utilizes brightness information embedded in the content along with AI-based tone mapping technology. This ensures that the maximum brightness and color range of the TV are optimized for each scene, preventing detail loss in bright images.Intelligent Motion Compensation adjusts frame rates based on scene-specific metadata, focusing on reducing motion blur and stuttering in fast-paced content such as sports broadcasts and action films.Since Prime Video became the first online video service to introduce HDR10+ in 2017, Samsung and Amazon have continued their collaboration, now expanding support to HDR10+ Advanced.With approximately 250 million users worldwide, the implementation of HDR10+ Advanced is expected to accelerate the distribution of HDR10+ content.Currently, 183 global companies participate in managing the HDR10+ standard, with over 22,000 certifications for related products and content.Samsung aims to expand the ecosystem of open high-quality video by increasing HDR10+ supported content and devices. Analysts suggest that collaboration with content platforms is becoming a key competitive factor in the premium TV market, alongside picture quality technology.BA Winston, Vice President of Technology at Prime Video, stated, "HDR10+ Advanced is a technology that can more faithfully convey the creator's intent."Son Tae-yong, Vice President of Samsung's Visual Display Business, remarked, "Through our collaboration with Prime Video, we are excited to showcase HDR10+ Advanced content, providing viewers with a detailed viewing experience at home."* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:24:00
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Palantir Reports 149% Surge in U.S. Private Sector Revenue, Raises Annual Outlook U.S. data analytics company Palantir Technologies reported second-quarter results that significantly exceeded market expectations, driven by strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) software. The company also raised its annual revenue forecast. On August 3, local time, Reuters and Palantir's earnings report revealed that second-quarter revenue reached $1.935 billion, a 93% increase from the same period last year, surpassing market expectations of $1.8 billion. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS), excluding certain costs, were 41 cents, exceeding the market estimate of 35 cents. The rapid growth of Palantir's U.S. business significantly boosted overall performance. U.S. revenue increased by 115% year-over-year to $1.573 billion, accounting for 81% of total revenue. Notably, revenue from the U.S. private sector surged 149% to $764 million, while revenue from the U.S. government sector rose 90% to $809 million. The fast growth of AI services targeting private companies has narrowed the revenue gap between the government and private sectors in the U.S. Palantir CEO Alex Karp described the results as "incredibly impressive" and expressed confidence in further growth, stating that the expansion in the U.S. private sector is still in its early stages. Palantir raised its annual revenue forecast from the previous range of $7.65 billion to $7.662 billion, now estimating between $8.15 billion and $8.158 billion. For the third quarter, the company projects revenue between $2.16 billion and $2.164 billion, exceeding market expectations. Following the strong performance and raised annual outlook, Palantir's stock rose 2.1% during regular trading and jumped nearly 12% in after-hours trading.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:24:00
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Video: 'My Daughter Can't Live There!' Kim Yong-beom's Hypocrisy Exposed Amid Housing Policy Debate As the government announced a reform plan for real estate taxation, past comments by Kim Yong-beom, the policy director at the presidential office, regarding rental housing have come under renewed scrutiny. This is particularly relevant as Kim, who reportedly made significant profits from real estate without actual residence, displayed an agitated reaction during a National Assembly inquiry about rental housing, leading to increased criticism.Recently, a video of Kim's responses during a National Assembly Operations Committee meeting on November 18 of last year has circulated widely on various online communities and social media.During the meeting, Kim Eun-hye, a member of the People Power Party, questioned Kim about public rental housing policies, asking, "Would you tell your daughter to live in rental housing?"In response, Kim raised his voice, saying, "Don't say that," and "How can you involve family in this?" As he became increasingly agitated, pointing his finger, Kim Eun-hye retorted, "Try to put yourself in my shoes." This exchange sparked controversy at the time, but it has gained more attention in light of Kim's real estate ownership history.According to asset disclosure documents from the Government Public Officials Ethics Committee, Kim owns an apartment in Seocho District, Seoul, co-titled with his spouse. The apartment, measuring 146 square meters, was acquired in 2000 for about 400 million won through a reconstruction right from the Gukdong Apartment in Banpo-dong, and it is currently valued at approximately 3 billion won.Criticism has also emerged on the anonymous workplace community Blind. One user, identifying as an employee at Seo-young Engineering, wrote, "He gets angry when asked if he would let his child live in rental housing, yet he cuts the budget for the buffer and stepping stone loans available to young professionals. This is why I can never support the Democratic Party. His hypocrisy is disgusting."The user further claimed, "Those who have stable housing tend to become more conservative, so I can't help but suspect that the People Power Party is trying to make the youth dependent on rental housing to gain an advantage in future elections."Other netizens echoed the criticism, stating, "He advocates for rentals for the youth but gets defensive when it comes to his family," and "Actions speak louder than words. Policymakers need to align with the public's perspective." 2026-08-04 08:20:00
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Fire Breaks Out Near Mukho Port in Donghae, Response Level 1 Activated A fire broke out at a commercial building across from Mukho Port in Donghae, Gangwon Province, on August 4.According to Yonhap News, the fire department received the alarm at 6:11 a.m. and promptly activated Response Level 1, deploying 65 personnel and 27 pieces of equipment to ensure swift extinguishment and safety.Two residents in the affected building evacuated safely, and there have been no reported injuries so far.Authorities, including police and firefighters, plan to investigate the cause of the fire once it is extinguished.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-08-04 08:16:10