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  Korean won recovery capped by capital outflows despite weaker dollar SEOUL, Feb 12 (AJP) -Despite a broad retreat in the U.S. dollar, the South Korean won has failed to stage a meaningful recovery, frustrating authorities attempting to break what officials increasingly describe as a cycle of “structural undervaluation.” According to data released Thursday by the Bank of Korea, the won-dollar exchange rate stood at 1,459.1 as of Feb. 10, marking a 1.4 percent depreciation from December’s average of 1,439. The decline came even a February 12, 2026
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  Chip surge pushes KOSPI past 5,400 amid broader Asian gains SEOUL, February 12 (AJP) – Major Asian stock markets advanced on Thursday, led by semiconductor shares after strong gains in U.S. chipmakers boosted optimism about the sector, while Japanese equities extended their rally. Shares of U.S. memory chipmaker Micron Technology surged nearly 10 percent overnight after the company said it was supplying sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) chips to Nvidia without disruption, quelling speculation it had been excluded from the February 12, 2026
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  KOSPI stands out as regional winner as Tokyo stays closed SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) -South Korean shares emerged as regional winners on Wednesday, with Japanese markets closed for the National Foundation Day, as strong foreign and institutional buying and easing currency pressure lifted investor sentiment. The benchmark KOSPI rose 1.0 percent to close at 5,354.5, extending its rebound as heavyweight stocks regained momentum. The KOSPI 200 advanced 1.02 percent to 788.8, reflecting renewed strength in large-cap names. Foreign and inst February 11, 2026
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  NPS' big bet on US tech stocks pay off, with '25 gains near $30 bn SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) booked nearly $29.4 billion in valuation gains from its U.S. stock portfolio last year from its aggressive bet on Big Tech and artificial intelligence-driven growth despite rising concerns over market froth. The fund - one of the largest institutional players in the world - in its latest 13F filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reported that it held stakes in 561 U.S.-listed companies February 11, 2026
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  Bank deposits, bond prices ebb as money chases red-hot stocks in Korea SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) - Bank deposits and bond prices fell sharply in January as funds rotated rapidly into equities and money market funds (MMFs), signaling heightened risk appetite amid a blistering stock market rally, central bank data showed Wednesday. According to the Bank of Korea’s January financial market report, bank deposits shrank by 50.8 trillion won ($35 billion) last month, reversing a 7.7 trillion won increase in December. Demand deposits alone dropped 49.7 t February 11, 2026
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  Korean shares outperform Asian peers, while Tokyo pauses SEOUL, February 11 (AJP) – South Korean shares gained upward traction as institutions renewed buying after a correction last week, outperforming China-related markets weighed down by latest data renewing stagflation concerns. China’s consumer inflation rose less than expected in January while the deflation in producer prices persisted, in a sign of continued deflationary pressure in the absence of stronger stimulus. The consumer price index rose 0.2% in January fr February 11, 2026
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  Stocks are hot, but apartments are hotter in South Korea SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Stocks are hot in South Korea, but Seoul apartments remain hotter, as data shows profits from record market surge are increasingly being redirected into property purchases. Between July and December last year—after the government unveiled a package of housing market curbs in June—2.09 trillion won ($14.4 billion) was withdrawn from stocks and bonds to finance home purchases, according to data obtained from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure February 10, 2026
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  Coupang's data breach far worse than initially reported, probe finds SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - About 33.67 million users were affected by e-commerce giant Coupang's massive data leak late last year, a joint probe revealed on Tuesday. The probe, led by the Ministry of Science and ICT along with private agencies, found that about 33.67 million users' names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and other details were exposed. Since users could save other people's information such as family members' details on their accounts for orders, the m February 10, 2026
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  Asian markets advance on Japan-led risk rally; Korean stocks mixed SEOUL, February 10 (AJP) - Asian markets rose Tuesday after Japan’s postelection surge extended into a second session, setting the tone for regional trading as South Korean stocks lagged the rally. Japan’s Nikkei 225 jumped 2.3 percent to close at 57,650.5, marking a second straight record. The benchmark has risen more than 6 percent in the two days since the election, as investors welcomed policy continuity and prospects for aggressive fiscal support. Elsewhere, Ch February 10, 2026
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  FSS probes Bithumb following "ghost coin" scandal SEOUL, Feb 10 (AJP) -The Bithumb mispayment case is emerging as a major test for South Korea’s virtual asset regulatory system, as financial authorities move to use the findings to shape tougher oversight and future legislation. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said Tuesday that it is focusing on whether Bithumb’s internal control systems complied with the Act on the Protection of Virtual Asset Users, particularly rules requiring exchanges to hold virtual assets February 10, 2026