NPS posts 27% H1 return as KOSPI doubles SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) - South Korea's National Pension Service posted a 27.22 percent return in the first half, roughly seven times the average for the same six-month period over the previous six years, as an extraordinary rally in Korean stocks propelled the fund to its strongest start in recent years. The performance came as the KOSPI more than doubled from the end of December through June before a correction began in July, leaving the latest pension report as a snapshot of r August 28, 2026

KOSPI slips on chip losses despite Nvidia rally SEOUL, August 28 (AJP) — South Korean shares retreated Friday as investors digested the Bank of Korea's back-to-back rate hikes, with losses in major chip and biotech stocks overwhelming the positive spillover from Nvidia's overnight surge. The KOSPI traded at 6,818.87, down 1.29 percent, as of 10:30 a.m. amid broad selling and thin turnover. Losers outnumbered gainers 575 to 294. Foreign investors led the outflows, selling a net 233.5 billion won ($169.1 million) August 28, 2026

Bond yields shoot up after back-to-back hike SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korean government bonds staged a sharp reversal Thursday after the Bank of Korea's second straight rate hike, while the won strengthened only modestly despite closing at an 11-month high. The dollar-won rate fell 3.9 to close daytime trading at 1,380.9, its lowest level since September last year. The rate dropped as low as 1,377.3 shortly after the decision before recovering much of the decline later in the session. The BOK raised its base August 27, 2026

KOSPI closes a tad higher as Nvidia boost fades on BOK rate hike SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korean stocks opened higher on Nvidia's earnings beat on Thursday but gave back most of their gains after the Bank of Korea (BOK) raised its key interest rate for a second straight time and signaled further hikes. The main KOSPI closed at 6,912.37, up 104.16 points or 1.53 percent from the previous session, after opening 2.76 percent higher at 6,996.12. The country's two major chipmakers SK hynix and Samsung Electronics kept only part of the August 27, 2026

Korea's card debt surges on increased borrowing before higher rates SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) - South Korean card and insurance companies earned more in the first half as personal borrowings sought to secondary lenders due to stricter bank regulations, boding badly for household finances with lending rates set to go higher after the central bank's faster-than-expected rate hikes, government data showed Thursday. Credit and debit card purchases totaled 635.3 trillion won in the first half, up from 595.7 trillion won a year earlier, according to the August 27, 2026

KOSPI pares Nvidia rally after BOK hikes to 3% SEOUL, August 27 (AJP) — South Korea's KOSPI gave up more than half of its Nvidia-fueled early gains Thursday after the Bank of Korea (BOK) delivered a surprising back-to-back rate hike to 3 percent, tempering a rally in Korean chipmakers that had pushed the benchmark close to 7,000. The KOSPI traded at 6,864.75 as of 10:20 a.m., up 0.84 percent, after jumping more than 2 percent earlier in the session on Nvidia's bullish outlook for artificial intelligence demand and August 27, 2026

Chip payouts may give Korean won more room to run SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - South Korea's won, already near its strongest level in almost a year, has more upside room as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix are expected to dole out massive shareholder returns. The dollar influx, however, won't likely match the recent boost from SK hynix's $26.5 billion American depositary receipt issuance, traders say. The won has strengthened sharply in recent weeks as exporters increased dollar selling and SK hynix converted part of its August 26, 2026

South Korean matchmaker Duo fined $250,000 over false claims SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - South Korean regulator has fined matchmaking company Duo 345 million won ($250,000) for misleading claims that it had the industry’s largest pools of professionals and graduates from prestigious universities. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said Wednesday the company had used the claims across its website, blog and outdoor advertisements since April 2022. The regulator also ordered the company to correct the practices. Among the slogans were stateme August 26, 2026

Afinit eyes KOSDAQ listing on India growth SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) - South Korean fintech company Afinit has begun the process of listing on the KOSDAQ, seeking to build on rapid growth in India and expand its financial services into other emerging markets. The company said Wednesday that it submitted a preliminary listing application to the Korea Exchange (KRX), formally kicking off its initial public offering (IPO) process. Mirae Asset Securities is the lead underwriter, with Hana Securities serving as a co-underwriter. August 26, 2026

Asian stocks tread water ahead of Nvidia results SEOUL, August 26 (AJP) — Asian stocks were mostly sidelined Wednesday as investors waited for a cluster of market-moving U.S. events, with South Korea's KOSPI and regional chip shares looking to Nvidia's earnings for their next direction. Markets are bracing for three major catalysts - the U.S. personal consumption expenditures price index, Nvidia's earnings after the bell on Wednesday and Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh's remarks at the Jackson Hole sympo August 26, 2026