Samsung Electronics, Exporters, Oil-Dependents: South Korea Equity 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 rose 1.3 percent to 1,876.80. The Kosdaq rose
1.6 percent to 798.86. Kospi 200 futures expiring in September
increased 1 percent to 236.00, while the underlying index rose 1.3
percent to 236.91.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

MBK Offers to Buy C&M for $3.2 Billion in Korea's Biggest LBO, Bankers Say

(Bloomberg) -- MBK Partners Ltd., the South Korean
private equity group founded by former Carlyle Group executives,
offered 3 trillion won ($3.2 billion) for cable-TV operator C&M,
said two bankers who were asked to provide financing.

The Seoul-based buyout company wants to borrow as much as 2
trillion won to pay for closely held C&M, South Korea's second-
biggest cable-TV operator, said the bankers, who declined to be
identified because the bid hasn't been disclosed. The purchase
would include New York-based Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s 30.5
percent stake, they said.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

Manufacturers, Steelmakers, Kookmin Bank: South Korea Equity 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 gained 1.3 percent to 1,906.71. The Kosdaq
advanced 0.3 percent to 794.19. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September rose 2 percent to 242.55, while the underlying index
climbed 1.3 percent to 241.39.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Hyundai Steel Workers Strike Over Pay at Two Plants; Production Disrupted

(Bloomberg) -- Hyundai Steel Co., South Korea's
second-largest steelmaker, said output was disrupted today at
two of its three local plants as unionized workers staged a
strike to demand higher pay.

The workers, asking for a rise of 8.2 percent, walked out
at the Incheon and Pohang mills, Chang Young Sik, a Hyundai
Steel spokesman, said by phone. Details of the disruption
weren't available. The company is offering 3.9 percent.


Read more at Bloomberg Commodities News

South Korea Orders Garuda, Six Other Airlines to Improve Safety Standards

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's transportation
ministry said it would bar PT Garuda Indonesia and six other
overseas airlines from flying to the country if they didn't
raise safety standards.

State-owned Iran Air, Cambodia's PMTair and Royal Khmer
Airlines Co. were also ordered to make improvements, Lee Kwang
Hee, a director at South Korea's Aviation Safety Oversight
Division said today. Problems included shortages of spare parts
or engineers, as well as a lack of safety manuals, Lee said.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

Exporters, Retailers, Kookmin, KT&G, Posco: South Korea Equity Preview

(Bloomberg) -- The following shares may rise or
fall in South Korea. Prices refer to the July 16 close. This
preview includes news announced after markets shut. Stock
symbols are in brackets after the company names.

The Kospi index lost 0.7 percent to 1949.51. The Kosdaq
slid 0.7 percent to 819.91. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September slid 1.5 percent to 248.80, while the underlying index
dropped 0.9 percent to 247.91. Korean markets were closed
yesterday for a holiday.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Posco Reports Highest Net Income in Two Years as Steel Prices, Demand Rise

(Bloomberg) -- Posco, a steelmaker that doubled in
value in the past year, reported second-quarter profit climbed
55 percent to the highest in two years, as it raised prices to
take advantage of surging demand.

Net income at the third-biggest steelmaker in Asia rose to
1.11 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in the quarter ended June, from
716 billion won a year ago, the Pohang, South Korea-company said
today in a statement. Sales rose 25 percent to 5.82 trillion won.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

South Korean Stocks Advance After Rate Increase; Posco Rises to Record

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks advanced after
the Bank of Korea raised interest rates, reinforcing confidence
in the nation's economic recovery. Shinhan Financial Group Ltd.
led the climb.

Samsung Electronics Co. extended gains after the central
bank raised its benchmark interest for the first time in almost a
year to 4.75 percent. The Bank of Korea and the government had
raised their forecasts for this year's economic expansion earlier
this week.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Kookmin Bank, LG.Philips LCD, SK Securities: South Korea Equity 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 added 0.6 percent to a record 1894.53. The
Kosdaq added 0.2 percent to 814.85. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September advanced 0.6 percent to 242.30, while the underlying
index climbed 0.6 percent to 241.02.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Egypt to buy six ships from S.Korea's STX - agency

(Reuters) - National Bank of Egypt said on Monday it had signed an agreement with South Korea's STX Shipbuilding Co. to fund Egypt's purchase of six ships for $251.6 million, according to state news agency MENA.

Atiya Salem, vice chairman of National Bank of Egypt told MENA the bank was funding the purchase of four vessels with a capacity of 81,000 tonnes and two with capacity of 85,000 tonnes for the state's National Maritime Company.


Read more at Reuters Africa

South Korea's Kospi Index Climbs, Led by Samsung Electronics, Kookmin

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index,
the Kospi Index, rose 0.76 percent at 9:05 a.m.

The index of 731 companies traded on the Korea Exchange rose
14.17 to 1,875.18. Among the stocks in the index, 372 rose, 237
fell and 122 were unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

PRESS DIGEST - New York Times business news - July 5

(Reuters) - * China said that nearly a fifth of the food and consumer
products that it checked in a nationwide survey this year were
found to be substandard or tainted, underscoring the risk faced
by its own consumers even as the country's exports come under
greater scrutiny overseas.




* World stock markets rose Wednesday, with shares in Hong
Kong and South Korea closing at new highs. European indexes
were buoyed by shares of hotel companies after Hilton Hotels
Corp. agreed to be bought by the equity firm the
Blackstone Group .


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

South Korean Bonds Fall as Interest Rates Will Rise; Won Little Changed

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's government bonds dropped
on speculation the central bank will raise interest rates next
week to prevent surplus cash in the banking system from spurring
inflation. The won was little changed.

Five-year bonds fell for a fifth day as Finance Minister
Kwon Okyu said monetary policy should be aimed at ``controlling
liquidity'' because consumer prices may rise. Exports increased
to a record in June while the nation's current account balance
was in surplus for the first time in three months in May.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Korean Won Falls as Minister Warns on Excessive Gains; Revenue Hurts Peso

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's won fell from a seven-
month high after Finance Minister Kwon Okyu said the government
will take measures to slow its gain when necessary.

The currency snapped a four-day, 1.1 percent rally on
speculation the central bank will sell the won. The exchange rate
may threaten growth by making Korean goods more expensive abroad,
reducing demand for the nation's exports.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

South Korea to Deliver Oil to North Korea Under Nuclear Dismantling Accord

(Bloomberg) -- The South Korean government agreed
to begin the delivery of 50,000 metric tons of heavy fuel oil to
North Korea within two weeks, as part of a nuclear dismantling
agreement, the South's Unification Ministry said.

The agreement came late yesterday, after two-days of
discussions with North Korean officials in the North's city of
Gaeseong, the ministry said in an e-mailed statement. South
Korea will deliver the oil via a sea route and complete it
within 20 days of the first ship's departure.


Read more at Bloomberg Energy News

Asia stocks firm, Nikkei stars as yen softens

(Reuters) - Crude oil futures were a touch firmer in early Asian trade after U.S. oil topped $70 a barrel for the first time in nearly 10 months the previous session, while gold was steady above $647 an ounce, helped in part by firmer oil prices.




South Korean stocks edged higher, but Australian shares drifted on profit-taking in big banks, offsetting gains in resource firms. Hong Kong's Hang Seng was off 0.2 percent.


Read more at Reuters.com Hot Stocks News

Exporters, Hanjin, Kia Motors, Korea Electric: South Korea Equity 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 lost 0.9 percent to 1733.10. The Kosdaq
retreated 2.5 percent to 761.03. Kospi 200 futures expiring in
September slipped 1.2 percent to 221.20, while the underlying
index dropped 0.9 percent to 220.35.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea's Kospi Declines, Led by Samsung, Shinhan Financial, Kookmin

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index,
the Kospi Index, fell 1.03 percent at 9:05 a.m.

The index of 729 companies traded on the Korea Exchange
fell 18.26 to 1,752.72. Among the stocks in the index, 160 rose,
464 fell and 105 were unchanged.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea Stocks Drop, Snapping Record of 15 Weekly Advances; Banks Fall

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks fell, rounding
off their first losing week since March. Korea Exchange Bank slid
after controlling shareholder Lone Star Funds sold a 13.6 percent
stake, heightening uncertainty about the sale of the lender.

Kookmin Bank, which had planned to buy Korea Exchange before
Lone Star shelved the deal last year, also slid.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Lone Star to sell S.Korea Kukdong Eng for $712 mln

(Reuters) - The deal is the second divestment of South Korean assets held
by Lone Star on Friday, following the $1.28 billion sale of a
13.6 percent stake in Korea Exchange Bank in an
overnight block trade.





Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News