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  Korea Zinc strikes strategic alliance with US for $7.4 smelter project SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) -Korea Zinc has struck a strategic alliance with the U.S. government, including defense authorities, to build a $7.4 billion critical-minerals smelter—supporting Washington’s effort to cut reliance on China while shoring up its own defenses against a hostile takeover at home. The world’s largest non-ferrous metal smelter is deepening its alignment with Washington through a large-scale U.S. expansion that places it at the center of Americ December 16, 2025
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  Korean won at record low signals monetary policy failure SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - The Korean won hovering near its weakest level on record is set to ripple across the economy, from higher inflation and capital outflows to a deepening discount on Korean assets and companies. The dollar closed Monday in Seoul at 1,472.2 won, down 5.30 won, as the yen strengthened broadly on expectations of a rate hike in Japan later this week. The modest pullback offered only fleeting relief for policymakers. Authorities were alarmed enough to conven December 15, 2025
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  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 December 15, 2025
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  Asian stocks slide on AI bubble fears, Fed uncertainty SEOUL, December 15 (AJP) - Asian equity markets fell broadly on Monday, pressured by growing skepticism over artificial intelligence-driven growth and renewed uncertainty about the future path of U.S. monetary policy. The sell-off reflected concerns that investor enthusiasm for AI-related stocks may be running ahead of fundamentals. Market uncertainty was compounded by reports that the Trump administration is considering Kevin Warsh, viewed as dovish, as the next chair of the U.S. December 15, 2025
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  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 Electronic December 15, 2025
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  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 December 15, 2025
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  Seoul holds emergency meeting as KRW set to end at its record low average SEOUL, December 14 (AJP) -South Korea’s fiscal, monetary and financial authorities convened an emergency meeting on Sunday as the Korean won continued to weaken against major currencies, defying a broad retreat in the U.S. dollar. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and attended by Financial Services Commission Chairman Lee Eog-weon, Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong, Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Chan-jin December 14, 2025
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  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 bil December 12, 2025
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  Defensive of KRW, Seoul's attention shifts to potential rate hike in Japan after U.S. rate cut SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - A U.S. rate cut typically delivers immediate relief to Korean financial markets. This time, it barely moved sentiment. Investors quickly pivoted to risks emerging across the Pacific — namely the possibility of a Japanese rate hike that could unleash sweeping reversals of international capital leveraged through decades of zero-interest Japanese funding. As widely expected, the U.S. Federal Reserve delivered a third consecutive rate cut, lowering the December 11, 2025
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  Yen carry trade unwind weighs on Asian stocks despite Fed rate cut SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Asian markets slipped or traded flat on Thursday as investors braced for a potential Bank of Japan interest rate hike and a broader unwinding of the yen carry trade. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s earlier rate cut offered limited support, with sentiment pressured further after the Fed signaled a more hawkish policy outlook that tempered hopes for additional easing. The Korean won weakened to 1,472.4 per dollar as of 4:40 p.m., down 5.8 won, amid exp December 11, 2025