Asian stocks retreat near 1% amid imminent US reverse blockade at Hormuz SEOUL, April 13 (AJP) — Asian markets opened broadly lower Monday on renewed spike in oil price after the U.S.-Iran showdown spilled over to the Strait of Hormuz following failed weekend peace talks. The pullback, however, remained relatively contained at around 1 percent, suggesting markets are still pricing in a controlled escalation and a potential pathway toward stabilizing the critical waterway. South Korea’s benchmark KOSPI fell 0.79 percent to 5,812.82 as of April 13, 2026

Asian markets rise as Japan leads gains ahead of Washington-Tehran talks SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - Japan leads gains in Asian markets Friday as optimism over planned Washington-Tehran talks lifts risk appetite, even as lingering supply concerns keep sentiment in check. This shift toward diplomatic engagement disrupts the recent pattern of defensive trading, as investors weigh the potential for a breakthrough in the Islamabad summit against persistent geopolitical friction. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 jumped 1.84 percent, led by gains in semiconductor and la April 10, 2026

BOK opts "strategic patience", swan-song warning on housing SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) — The Bank of Korea (BOK) unanimously held the base rate steady at 2.5 percent, opting for what it called “strategic patience” as the Black Swan shock from the Middle East conflict exerts both upward and downward pressure. “The freeze at 2.5 percent is not a simple suspension,” Governor Rhee Chang-yong said Friday after presiding over his final monetary policy meeting before his term ends later this month. “Given the sever April 10, 2026

Asian markets rise on ceasefire talks, shrug off BOK pause SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) -Asian markets opened broadly higher Friday as investors bet on easing tensions as U.S. and Iranian delegates are set to hold face-to-face talks following a ceasefire in Pakistan on Saturday. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI rose 1.82 percent to 5,883.03, while the junior KOSDAQ gained 1.36 percent to 1,090.68 as of 11:05 a.m. The market largely brushed off the Bank of Korea’s rate freeze — extended for nearly a year — with policy inertia a April 10, 2026

Low-cost carrier Air Premia tops 3 million int'l passengers SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - Air Premia has surpassed 3 million in the cumulative number of international passengers, the low-cost carrier said on Friday. The milestone comes about three years and nine months after launching its first international routes in July 2022. Of its total of 11,458 international flights, which flew about 62.74 million kilometers, about 45.40 million kilometers or 72.3 percent of the accumulated flight distance, came from routes to North America. The averag April 10, 2026

FSS puts brake on Hanwha Solutions' rights offering despite owner backing SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - The rights offering plan by Hanwha Solutions to raise 2.4 trillion won to lessen its debt load drew a correction order from authorities despite the owner family offering to share the burden. The Financial Supervisory Service said it had requested the company to submit a revised securities filing, citing incomplete formal requirements and insufficient or unclear disclosure of key information that could hinder investors' decision-making. The filing has April 10, 2026

BOK holds rate at 2.5% as inflation risks clash with slowing growth SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) — The Bank of Korea on Friday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent as widely expected, caught between rising import-driven inflation and a slowing economy amid prolonged disruptions from Middle East conflicts. The policy decision reflects a growing dilemma for the central bank, as energy supply constraints tied to the Gulf tensions continue to feed price pressures while weighing on growth. Consumer prices rose 2.2 percent in M April 10, 2026

Asian stocks slip as Middle East tensions offset truce optimism SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) -Asian stocks edged lower Thursday as the celebratory mood over a temporary truce between the U.S. and Iran faded just a day after the agreement. The benchmark KOSPI fell 1.61 percent, or 94.33 points, to close at 5,778.01, after trading between a high of 5,862.41 and a low of 5,757.49. Foreign investors led the selling, offloading 874.7 billion won ($590 million), while retail and institutional investors bought a combined 504.8 billion won. Among l April 9, 2026

Asian markets retreat after truce rally; Kospi slips by Samsung block sale SEOUL, April 09 (AJP) - Asian markets opened broadly lower on Thursday, giving back some of the previous session's sharp gains after the United States and Iran effectively agreed to a Pakistan-mediated two-week truce. As investors monitored the course of Washington-Tehran negotiations, South Korean stocks were weighed by profit-taking following Wednesday’s sharp jump and a large block sale of Samsung Electronics shares. The main index fell 0.99 percent to 5,814.40, April 9, 2026

Battery makers expected to post Q1 losses, but optimism remains on ESS demand SEOUL, April 9 (AJP) - South Korea's three major battery makers are expected to post weak first-quarter results amid slowing demand for electric vehicles. According to data compiled by financial information provider FnGuide, Samsung SDI, SK On, and LG Energy Solution are projected to post operating losses for the first three months of this year. Samsung SDI is estimated to have posted an operating loss of 263.5 billion won ($196 million), while SK On is expected to report a l April 9, 2026