Asian markets mostly subdued amid mixed economic signs SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - Asian markets were broadly muted on Tuesday as South Korea and Japan paused after nearly a week of uninterrupted gains, while Chinese equities traded flat amid conflicting economic signals. South Korea’s KOSPI slipped 0.7 percent to 4,192.20 in early trading as investors locked in profits following a sharp rally in large-cap semiconductor stocks. Foreign investors sold 701.2 billion won, while domestic institutions offloaded 207.9 billion won. Tec November 4, 2025

South Korea's inflation gains fastest in 15 months, markets price in rate freeze SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s consumer inflation accelerated at the fastest pace in 15 months in October, reinforcing market expectations for another rate freeze this month as authorities attributed much of the pickup to increased spending during the extended Chuseok holiday, government data showed Tuesday. According to the October consumer price index (CPI) released by the Ministry of Data and Statistics, headline inflation rose 2.4 percent from a year earlier, t November 4, 2025

LG Chem, China's Sinopec to co-develop sodium-ion battery materials SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - South Korea’s LG Chem said Tuesday it has formed a partnership with China’s largest energy and chemical company, Sinopec, to develop key materials for next-generation sodium-ion batteries, a technology seen as a promising alternative to lithium-based systems. The two companies signed an agreement on Oct. 30 to jointly research and produce cathode and anode materials for sodium-ion batteries, known as SIBs. The collaboration aims to strength November 4, 2025

South Korea's crypto curbs push investors to foreign exchanges SEOUL, November 04 (AJP) - The number of South Korean investors holding large sums in overseas cryptocurrency exchange accounts has more than doubled in a year, reflecting both the global market’s resurgence and growing frustration with South Korea’s restrictive trading environment. According to data from the National Tax Service, 2,320 South Koreans reported offshore crypto accounts exceeding 500 million won (about $360,000) by the end of last year — a two-f November 4, 2025

Korea's HD Korea Shipbuilding posts milestone Q3 profit on brisk vessel sales SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. on Monday reported its best-ever quarterly performance since adopting a holding-company structure, with operating profit more than doubling from a year earlier to surpass 1 trillion won ($733 million) for the first time. Operating profit jumped to 1.05 trillion won in the July–September period on revenue of 7.6 trillion won, up 21 percent on year. Net income surged nearly fourfold to 876.7 billion November 3, 2025

Asian markets recover, KOSPI and Nikkei continue to test new highs SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Asian stocks rebounded on Monday, with South Korea and Japan extending their record-setting rallies on expectations of stronger chip-sector earnings and upbeat corporate results. The benchmark KOSPI jumped 2.78 percent to a new closing high of 4,221.87. Retail investors drove the rally, purchasing 651.2 billion won ($456 million) worth of shares, followed by institutions with 443.2 billion won. Foreign investors sold about 795 billion won, taking profits November 3, 2025

Korean brands still in hangover over Jensen Huang's Seoul evening binge SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - There was nothing casual about the tech boys' night-out in Seoul for "chimaek" — the beloved chicken-and-beer pairing — given the multi-trillion-dollar businesses they represent and the influence they wield over the global economy. The APEC week has officially ended, but the afterglow — and hangover — from Thursday's late-night binge among Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hy November 3, 2025

HS Hyosung acquires Belgium's battery materials company for $145 million SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korea's HS Hyosung Group said Monday it has entered the next-generation battery materials market with the acquisition of EMM, the battery anode subsidiary of Belgium’s Umicore, for about 200 billion won, or roughly $145 million. The deal also includes the creation of a joint venture between the two companies to advance silicon anode technology. Umicore, specialized in materials science, has long been known for its expertise in batter November 3, 2025

HD Hyundai joins hands with Siemens to spur digital transformation in shipbuilding SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - South Korea's HD Hyundai has signed a partnership with Siemens of Germany to bring digital transformation and automation technologies to the United States shipbuilding industry. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday at the Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, the venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The agreement calls for collaboration in digital ship design, process automation, and data-driven quality manageme November 3, 2025

Korean Economy/Business Calendar SEOUL, November 03 (AJP) - Nov. 4, Tue Consumer Price Index, October 2025 (Ministry of Data and Statistics) Q3 Results (EcoPro BM) Q3 Results (Krafton) Q3 Results (GS E&C) Nov. 5, Wed Economically Active Population Survey, August 2025 (Ministry of Data and Statistics) Q3 Results (Naver) Q3 Results (EcoPro and its subsidiaries) Q3 Results (Kakao Bank) Q3 Results (Doosan Enerbility) Q3 Results (Hanwha Solutions) Nov. 6, Thu Multicultural Population Dynamic November 3, 2025