Offshore NDF trading behind a third of won's March decline: BOK SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - Offshore non-deliverable forward trading accounted for an estimated one-third of the won’s depreciation in March, highlighting the influence overseas positions over Korea’s domestic FX market. The impact was about four times greater overnight than during Seoul trading hours, when deeper liquidity and a broader range of transactions diluted the effect of NDF flows. The Bank of Korea on Tuesday released estimates of the impact of NDF trading on August 4, 2026

BECUAI hits daily limit on return from capital reduction SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) — Shares of South Korean artificial intelligence (AI) data company BECUAI surged to the daily 30 percent trading limit on Tuesday as trading resumed following a capital reduction, while growing demand for licensed AI training data added to positive sentiment. The stock was trading at 2,990 won ($2.15), up 30 percent from the previous close Tuesday, according to the Korea Exchange. Trading resumed after the company reduced the number of outstanding sha August 4, 2026

Korean issues in short-term debt hit record high H1 SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) —South Korean companies increasingly turned to short-term borrowing in the first half as higher funding costs and a sluggish capital market outside the semiconductor sector pushed issuers away from longer-term financing. According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) on Tuesday, companies raised a record 1,272.8 trillion won ($917 billion) through commercial paper (CP) and short-term notes during the January-June period, up 68 percent from a year August 4, 2026

KOSPI slips as chipmakers fall; KOSDAQ surges 5% SEOUL, August 04 (AJP) - Korean shares diverged sharply Tuesday morning, with the benchmark KOSPI slipping as heavyweight semiconductor and automobile stocks declined, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ surged 5 percent on institutional buying and gains in biotechnology and optical communications shares. As of 10:30 a.m., the KOSPI stood at 6,217.20, down 0.6 percent from the previous session. The index moved between an intraday high of 6,389.40 and a low of 6,080.30. Retail investo August 4, 2026

Crypto exchange Bithumb eyes IPO listing by 2028 SEOUL, August 4 (AJP) - Cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has laid out a phased roadmap to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) by 2028. In a notice posted on X on Monday, the company said it has already begun IPO preparations by strengthening internal controls, improving accounting standards, and boosting transparency, with plans to file for a preliminary review in 2027 before completing the IPO in 2028. Bithumb said it is working with domestic and overseas securities firms, ac August 4, 2026

KOSPI slides after historic rally as chip stocks plunge SEOUL, August 3 (AJP) - South Korea's stock market tumbled on Monday, with Samsung Electronics and SK hynix both sinking more than 8 percent, sending the country's benchmark KOSPI back below 6,300 points. The decline erased much of Friday's historic rebound, which proved short-lived. The index closed 5.12 percent lower at 6,257.45 as foreign and institutional investors extended heavy selling despite aggressive buying by retail investors. Individuals snapped up a net 4.65 August 3, 2026

Won pares early losses after U.S. yen buying; Korean bond yields little changed SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - The South Korean won recovered most of its early losses on Monday as the impact of U.S. yen buying carried into Asian currency markets, while Korean government bond yields were little changed ahead of inflation data. The won stood at 1,431.1 per dollar at 3:30 p.m., remaining 7.1 won weaker than Friday’s corresponding level. The exchange rate climbed into the 1,440 range after trading resumed on Monday morning as weekend developments and renewed w August 3, 2026

Korea's 40C heat sends KOSDAQ-listed cooling appliance stocks soaring SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) — Cooling appliance stocks on South Korea's junior KOSDAQ market rallied Monday as record-breaking heat and prolonged tropical nights fueled demand for air conditioners, fans and dehumidifiers. Winix, which manufactures dehumidifiers and other home appliances, jumped 21.45 percent to close at 5,860 won. Paseco and Shinil Electronics, both known for electric fans and seasonal home appliances, gained 10.44 percent and 3.56 percent, respectively. SPG, a August 3, 2026

Seoul weighs flexible leverage ratios as ETF turmoil prompts broader reforms SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) — South Korea is preparing legislation that would give regulators the authority to lower leverage ratios on single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) during market turmoil. According to financial authorities on Sunday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) is drafting amendments to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the country's primary law governing capital markets and investment products, to establish a legal ba August 3, 2026

KOSDAQ robot stocks rise on U.S. curbs targeting Chinese rivals SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) — Robot stocks on South Korea's junior KOSDAQ market extended their gains Monday after the United States tightened restrictions on Chinese-made robots, while Samsung Electronics' expanded push into robotics reinforced expectations for long-term industry growth. TXR Robotics, which develops warehouse automation and logistics robots, jumped 29.93 percent to 17,450 won ($12.60), hitting the daily trading limit. SPG, a maker of precision motors and g August 3, 2026