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    MSCI cites improved access to Korea-linked investment products ahead of review

    Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) said Friday that the Korean financial market has improved in terms of the availability of investment instruments ahead of next week's annual market classification review, while noting that underlying accessibility issues remain unresolved. "Derivative products linked to Korean indexes have recently been listed on international exchanges," it wrote in its 2026 global market accessibility review, upgrading its assessment from minus to plus. A plus rating means there are no major issues, though there is still room for improvement. MSCI said some restrictions remain in Korea on the use of exchange data for the creation of financial products. The Korean market received minus ratings in six of the 18 assessment categories last year. But this year, as the availability of investment instruments category was upgraded to plus, the number of minus-rated categories fell to five: the foreign exchange market liberalization level, investor registration and account setup, information flow, clearing and settlement, and transferability. "Authorities have continu

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    MSCI cites improved access to Korea-linked investment products ahead of review
  • Economy

    KOSPI slips from record high amid US-Iran uncertainty

    2 MIN READBy Lee Yeon-woo
    KOSPI slips from record high amid US-Iran uncertainty
  • Economy

    Gov't to expand supply of imported eggs amid price hikes

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Gov't to expand supply of imported eggs amid price hikes
  • Economy

    Seoul stocks sharply up late Friday morning on chip rally

    1 MIN READBy Yonhap
    Seoul stocks sharply up late Friday morning on chip rally
  • Economy

    US-Iran MOU poses new opportunities, challenges for Korea: finance minister

    2 MIN READBy Yonhap
    US-Iran MOU poses new opportunities, challenges for Korea: finance minister
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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

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Economy

Ukraine feud poses downside risk to Korea

A cargo vessel carrying liquefied natural gas. Korea Times fileBy Lee Kyung-min Concerns are mounting that escalating tensions in Ukraine could pose downside risks to Korea, an emerging market highly vulnerable to an exodus of foreign capital triggered by global financial market uncertainties.A closer look at the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the world's largest natural gas exporter, shows that the standoff involves Moscow and Western countries, a reason why market watchers are paying close attention to how big of an impact a war over geopolitical hegemony could have on the energy market. Natural gas prices in Europe have spiked six-fold this year, due to supply chain uncertainties. The price volatility increased further after the U.S. delayed the operation of gas pipes connecting Germany and Russia to tame its military aggressions. Europe relies on Russia for about 40 percent of its total natural gas supply.Energy crisis concerns are mounting, since Korea will not be able to indefinitely delay paying higher energy costs. The government froze electricity fees for the first qua

Dec 27, 2021By Lee Kyung-min
Ukraine feud poses downside risk to Korea
Economy

Employment rate of college and grad school graduates falls to record low

gettyimagesbankThe employment rate of students with bachelor's, master's or doctorate degrees fell to a record low last year as the COVID-19 pandemic dealt a severe blow to job markets, government statistics showed Monday. Their employment rate stood at 65.1 percent last year, the lowest since the education ministry started compiling such data in 2011, according to its statistics. According to the statistics, 553,521 people graduated from colleges and graduate schools across the country between August 2019 and February 2020. Of them, 480,149 were subject to employment and 312,430, or 65.1 percent, were employed, down 2 percentage points from 67.1 percent tallied in 2019.By employment type, 284,359 were employed at workplaces providing national health care benefits, 18,139 were freelancers, 5,317 opened their own businesses and 1,131 found jobs overseas. The proportion of company workers subscribing to workplace health insurance and freelancers increased by 0.6 percentage point and 0.1 percentage point, respectively. But the proportion of those employed overseas and self-employed fell

Dec 27, 2021
Employment rate of college and grad school graduates falls to record low
Economy

Contribution Korea's economic journey as OECD member

Vincent KoenBy Vincent KoenIn 2021, Korea celebrated the 25th anniversary of its OECD membership. There is indeed much to be proud of, even though momentous challenges, old and new, loom large.Korea joined the OECD in 1996, after over three decades of stellar growth based on its export-oriented economy, its hard-working and increasingly well-educated workforce and high savings and investment rates. The so-called “Miracle on the Han River” had transformed one of the world's poorest countries at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War into an economy where per-capita income matched that of some European countries. Nevertheless, it was still far below the OECD average in 1996. Over the past 25 years, Korea has carried out major economic reforms, aligned its policies on OECD best practices in many areas, increased its integration into the global economy and further enhanced its technological and human potential. GDP per capita converged to the OECD average and overtook Japan's, and Korea became the world's 10th-largest economy. GDP per capita has caught up with the OECD averageCons

Dec 27, 2021By Lee Kyung-min
[Contribution] Korea's economic journey as OECD member
Economy

Cost of living top economic issue in Seoul next year: survey

gettyimagesbankThe cost of living was cited as the most important economic issue of 2022 by Seoul citizens, a survey showed Monday. According to the survey on 1,200 households in the capital by the Seoul Institute, 19.2 percent of the respondents said the cost of living is the top economic issue next year. Another 17.3 percent cited youth unemployment and job creation followed by mortgage loans and increasing household debts at 9.8 percent, the result of the 2022 presidential election at 8.3 percent, income polarization at 6.1 percent, and consumer sentiment and domestic business conditions at 5.7 percent. Asked whether the economy will improve next year, respondents said they expect the economy to get worse in all sectors. Respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic will likely have a bigger impact on the economy, and business conditions for small merchants, the stock market, youth unemployment, household income and consumer sentiment will worsen.The survey also showed that Seoul's consumer sentiment index (CSI) came in at 95.3 in the fourth quarter, up 2.1 points from the previous quart

Dec 27, 2021
Cost of living top economic issue in Seoul next year: survey
Economy

Robot-related stocks on the rise

Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter, left, speaks about Spot, a four-legged, dog-like robot developed by the firm. Korea Times file By Lee Kyung-min Robot-related shares are showing signs of overheating, as evidenced by around a 70-percent increase in value over the past few months in a clearly bearish market. Behind the steep rise lies market expectations of the rapid growth of the new technology-driven business, as confirmed by Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong announcing a three-year investment plan to the tune of 240 trillion won in future tech industries, including robots and artificial intelligence. Market watchers say that Samsung beginning the mass production of robots will fan the prospect of mergers and acquisition (M&A) opportunities for small technology developers and robot manufacturers. Also advancing the resolve of the global conglomerate's future tech business is the establishment of a robot business team. Such a team is an organization

Dec 27, 2021By Lee Kyung-min
Robot-related stocks on the rise
Economy

Korea's economy expected to rank 10th largest for 3 straight years in 2022: IMF

gettyimagesbankSouth Korea's economy is projected to continue to rank the 10th largest for three straight years in 2022 in terms of nominal gross domestic product (GDP), data from the International Monetary Fund showed Sunday.According to the data, South Korea's nominal GDP is expected to amount to $1.82 trillion and $1.91 trillion for this year and next year, respectively.If the projections are realized, South Korea will continue to rank the 10th largest economy for three consecutive years since 2020.South Korea saw its economic ranking climb to the 10th in 2018 after staying lower for years. Its ranking dropped to the 12th in 2019 before returning to the 10th last year.Asia's fourth-largest economy has shown signs of strong rebound from the pandemic amid robust exports and recovering consumption.The IMF predicted that the South Korean economy will grow 4.3 percent this year and 3.3 percent next year.Last week, the Seoul government revised up its 2022 growth outlook for the country's economy to 3.1 percent, saying that exports and private spending will likely gain ground despite hei

Dec 26, 2021
Korea's economy expected to rank 10th largest for 3 straight years in 2022: IMF
Economy

NFTs emerge as new value investments

An electronic trading board shows the prices of bitcoin, Oct. 21. Korea Times fileBy Lee Kyung-min Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a type of blockchain-mediated digital asset, are emerging as value investments, propped up by the steady inflow of pandemic-induced liquidity and robust growth of the cryptocurrency market, in which a variety of new virtual assets are being generated.The growth prospects of the digital tokens as a new asset class could brighten further, as proven in part by a sharp increase in share prices of entertainment and gaming firms after their announcements of hefty investments into the new investment vehicle. Also bolstering the view is a rapid increase in the number of young investors who have increasingly been embracing the digital token as a viable method of asset increase ― a result of gains from crypto investments over the past few years. Some equity market analysts say that a large portion of key investors will prefer NFTs to stocks ― an understandable choice given the gradual yet firmly hawkish monetary policy direction of the Bank of Korea in recent months.It

Dec 26, 2021By Lee Kyung-min
NFTs emerge as new value investments
Economy

Contribution It's not stagflation. It's steady-state expansion

Deyi Tan / Courtesy of Morgan StanleyBy Deyi TanIn 2021, the Korean economy was in what we call a “Goldilocks” phase. In this phase, GDP growth accelerated to being above-trend. Inflation remained benign, and policies were big and easy, with active fiscal policies and loose financial conditions aided by the Bank of Korea's monetary accommodation.As we approach 2022, markets are debating the likelihood of stagflation, given growth headwinds and upside inflation risks. Indeed, on the growth front, downside concerns stem from the implications of China's regulatory action and property market deleveraging. More recently, there are also concerns over the Omicron variant and how it may impact the recovery trajectory. Then there are the supply-side constraints, which have led to fears that this situation could amount to a constraint on growth and continue to lead inflation to surprises on the upside. Also related to upside inflation risks are how the Bank of Korea and other central banks may respond, especially against the backdrop of a faster Fed taper and whether that could pos

Dec 26, 2021By Lee Kyung-min
[Contribution] It's not stagflation. It's steady-state expansion
Economy

Seoul shares likely to see range-bound trading next week

A currency trader watches monitors in the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, in this Nov. 30 file photo. AP-Yonhap Shares on the South Korean stock markets are expected to move within a tight range next week with investors likely remaining wary over uncertainties from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and rising tensions between the United States and Russia over Ukraine, analysts said Saturday.The benchmark KOSPI closed at 3,012.43, Friday, adding 6.02 points, or 0.2 percent, during the week's trading.The main index started down about 1.8 percent Monday, but rebounded after U.S. President Joe Biden said putting his country under another COVID-19 lockdown was not on the table. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Emergency Use Authorization for Merck's antiviral pill and Pfizer's Paxlovid for COVID-19 treatment also helped ease market worries. "The overall risks are likely to be alleviated, although uncertainties remain with th

Dec 25, 2021
Seoul shares likely to see range-bound trading next week
Economy

Korean office market still attractive for investors next year

Seen is Seoul's Gangnam business district. gettyimagesbankVacancy rate continues trending down due to demand exceeding supplyRichard HwangBy Richard HwangThe Asia Pacific office market has shown remarkable resilience, being the only region to record consecutive quarters of positive net absorption since the onset of the pandemic, according to Cushman & Wakefield's latest report titled, “Catch '22 ― Asia Pacific Commercial Real Estate Outlook 2022.” Although regional vacancies have edged upwards, this increase is marginal and primarily driven by supply exceeding demand.Looking to 2022, demand is expected to grow ― reflective of a stronger recovery across the entire region ― before returning to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. Rents are expected to rebound from the beginning of 2022, having been falling slightly since the emergence of COVID-19.The Korean office market has been very active in 2021, recording a high absorption rate. In turn, vacancies in major Seoul districts have declined sharply. In particular, the drop in vacancy has been very significant in the Gangnam bus

Dec 25, 2021
Korean office market still attractive for investors next year
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