Hynix, Toshiba Shares Rise on Outage at Samsung Electronics Chip Factory

(Bloomberg) -- Shares of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and
Toshiba Corp. rose, bucking declines across Asia, on speculation
a power outage at Samsung Electronics Co. may spur increased
orders for the two smaller memory chipmakers.

Hynix's stock gained as much as 2.8 percent in Seoul and
Toshiba shares climbed 1.8 percent in Tokyo as benchmark indexes
in Asia fell. On Aug. 4, South Korea's Samsung said it resumed
production at the six production lines that were halted a day
earlier because of a power outage, estimating 40 billion won ($43
million) in lost sales.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

South Korea's Kospi Index Falls, Led by Samsung, Posco and Kookmin Bank

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index,
the Kospi Index, fell 2.41 percent at 9:05 a.m.

The index of 733 companies traded on the Korea Exchange
fell 45.19 to 1,831.61. Among the stocks in the index, 88 rose,
566 fell and 79 were unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea's Kospi Index Rises; Samsung, Posco, Doosan Infracore Gain

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index,
the Kospi Index, rose 0.46 percent at 9:05 a.m.

The index of 732 companies traded on the Korea Exchange rose
8.80 to 1,915.51. Among the stocks in the index, 415 rose, 134
fell and 183 were unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea Stocks Rise, Erasing Earlier Losses; Hynix Semiconductor Gains

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks rose, snapping a
two-day fall that had wiped out $68 billion in market value.
Technology companies rose, led by Hynix Semiconductor Inc., after
Shinyoung Securities Co. lifted its price estimate on higher chip
prices.

Stocks also rose after a government report showed South
Korea's industrial production increased almost twice as much as
expected, reinforcing speculation economic growth will speed up.
Posco advanced.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Asian Currencies Weaken as Overseas Investors Shun Region's Riskier Assets

(Bloomberg) -- Asian currencies fell on speculation
global investors cut holdings in riskier assets as stock markets
across the region dropped.

The Indonesian rupiah declined to the weakest in almost five
months and the Malaysian ringgit and South Korean won slipped to
their lowest in July. Bank Indonesia said last week it isn't
worried by the currency's decline, while South Korea's central
bank said the won is set to drop as the current-account surplus
narrows.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

South Korea's Kospi Index Falls Most in Four Months: World's Biggest Mover

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's Kospi index fell the
most in four months as investors judged excessive the rally that
this week drove the Kospi index above 2,000 for the first time.
Samsung Electronics Co. led the decline.

``Today's loss is because of profit-taking,'' said Kim Ki
Bong, who oversees $2 billion at CJ Asset Management Co. in
Seoul. ``Shares have become more volatile of late as people are
quicker to sell if the market turns down and buy more heavily
during the rallies.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea Stocks Fall, Reversing Earlier Gains; Exporters Drop on Won

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks dropped, erasing
earlier gains. Samsung Electronics Co. declined after the won
rose to the highest since December against the dollar, eroding
the local-currency value of exporters' overseas earnings.

Samsung Heavy Industries Co. advanced after it said second-
quarter profit jumped to a record.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea's Kospi Tops 2,000 for First Time After 39 Percent 2007 Rally

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark Kospi index
exceeded 2,000 for the first time. It has risen 39 percent so far
this year, the second-best performance among Asia's main stock
indexes after China's CSI 300 Index.

The Kospi index climbed 9.99, or 0.5 percent, to 2,003.04 as
of 9:03 a.m. in Seoul. The Kosdaq added 0.7 percent to 824.46.
Kospi 200 futures expiring in September gained 0.3 percent to
254.25, while the underlying index rose 0.4 percent to 253.27.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korean Shares Drop From Record; Samsung Electronics, Posco Decline

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks fell as
investors judged excessive a rally that's made the Kospi index
the world's best-performing benchmark this month. Samsung
Electronics Co. and Posco declined.

The Kospi index lost 3.99, or 0.2 percent, to 1,979.55 as
of 9:44 a.m. in Seoul, after earlier gaining as much as 0.3
percent. It's climbed 13 percent this month.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Exporters, Hanjin Heavy, Hyundai Motor: South Korea's Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following shares may rise or fall
in South Korea. Prices refer to the July 20 close. This preview
includes news announced after markets shut. Stock symbols are in
brackets after the company names.

The Kospi index climbed 2.4 percent to a record 1,983.14. The
Kosdaq added 0.7 percent to 825.33. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September advanced 2 percent to 252.55, while the underlying index
gained 2.3 percent to 251.45.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korean Won Climbs to Highest This Year; Malaysian Ringgit Advances

(Bloomberg) -- The South Korean won rose to the
strongest this year on signs growth in Asia is accelerating.

The currency has strengthened almost 1 percent in July as
the central bank and government raised this year's growth
forecasts. Vice Finance Minister Kim Seok Dong said today the
government will stabilize the won when necessary. China's economy,
South Korea's biggest export market, grew at the fastest pace in
12 years in the second quarter, a report today showed.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Sakhalin Energy Sells Vityaz Crude Oil to GS Caltex for September Loading

(Bloomberg) -- Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. sold a
cargo of Vityaz crude oil for loading in September, said traders
who submitted bids to buy cargoes.

GS Caltex Corp., South Korea's second-biggest refiner,
bought the cargo, said the traders who asked not to be identified
because of company policy.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

South Korea's Kospi Has First Rise in Three Days; Kookmin, LG Chem Advance

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks climbed, breaking
a two-day slide, on speculation strong exports and domestic demand
will fuel a recovery in the economy. Kookmin Bank led advances.

LG Chem Ltd. gained after reporting quarterly profit that was
more than double analysts' estimates.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Chipmakers, Oil-Dependents, LG Chem, Pusan Bank: South Korea Stock Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following shares may rise or fall
in South Korea. Prices refer to the previous close. This preview
includes news announced after markets shut yesterday. Stock
symbols are in brackets after the company names.

The Kospi index retreated 1 percent to 1930.70. The Kosdaq
fell 0.1 percent to 818.92. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September slipped 1.2 percent to 245.80, while the underlying
index dropped 1.2 percent to 244.92.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korean Won to Advance on Economic Growth, Stock Inflows, HSBC Says

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's won is likely to
extend its gains from the strongest in seven months as the
economy expands and overseas investors buy the nation's equities,
HSBC Holdings Plc said.

The won may advance to 905 against the dollar by the end of
this year, said Richard Yetsenga, a Hong Kong-based strategist
at Europe's biggest bank by market value. The currency has risen
1.3 percent this year as growth in Asia's third-largest economy
picked up and foreign funds put money into the stock market.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

CORRECTION: HSBC interested in KEB, contacted Lone Star: paper

(Reuters) - Dallas-based Lone Star is looking for a strategic buyer for its remaining 51 percent stake in KEB, South Korea's fifth-biggest lender, after it sold a 13.6 percent in the bank for $1.28 billion in June. The 51 percent stake is worth $4.95 billion at current market prices.




Continuing legal proceedings over Lone Star's 2003 purchase of KEB, however, have delayed a deal.


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

South Korea's Kospi Is Little Changed; Samsung Electronics, Kookmin Fall

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index,
the Kospi Index, fell 0.02 percent at 9:05 a.m.

The index of 731 companies traded on the Korea Exchange
fell 0.32 to 1,962.61. Among the stocks in the index, 347 rose,
253 fell and 131 were unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Asian Stocks Rise the Most in Two Months on Takeovers; Posco, BHP Climb

(Bloomberg) -- Asian stocks rose the most in two
months, spurred by Rio Tinto Group's $38 billion bid for Alcan
Inc. and higher sales at U.S. retailers.

Posco surged by the most in four years and BHP Billiton Ltd.
climbed following Rio's offer. Samsung Electronics Co. jumped
after reporting better-than-expected earnings and a newspaper
said billionaire investor Carl Icahn may be planning a hostile
bid. South Korea's Kospi index, the region's best performer in
the past three months, advanced 2.8 percent to a new high.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Samsung Electronics Posts Lowest Profit in Four Years as Chip Prices Fall

(Bloomberg) -- Samsung Electronics Co., Asia's
largest maker of semiconductors, flat screens and mobile phones,
reported its smallest quarterly profit in four years after a glut
drove prices of computer memory chips to record lows.

Second-quarter net income fell 5 percent to 1.42 trillion
won ($1.6 billion), from 1.5 trillion won a year earlier, the
Suwon, South Korea-based company said in a regulatory filing
today. That's the lowest profit since the second quarter of 2003.
Sales rose 3.7 percent to 14.63 trillion won.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Korean Won May Advance as Quickening Economic Growth Will Attract Inflows

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's won may rise for a
third day on speculation accelerating economic growth will
lure investments into the nation.

Overseas fund managers bought more stocks than they sold
for the first day in three as Lim Jong Ryong, director
general of the finance ministry's economic policy bureau,
said today that the Korean economy is recovering faster than
expected. The won gained yesterday after the government
increased its 2007 growth forecast.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News