Korean Won Declines to Near the Lowest in a Month as Investors Reduce Risk

(Bloomberg) -- The South Korean won fell, approaching
the lowest in more than a month, on speculation investors are
cutting investments in Asia as signs mount that the U.S. economy
is slowing.

Korea's currency and the benchmark stock index extended two
weeks of losses as reports Aug. 3 showed U.S. employers added
fewer jobs in July and service industries growth slowed. The Bank
of Korea the same day said it will restrict companies from
borrowing in foreign currencies to stem gains in the won that
threaten exporter's profits.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Doosan Infracore to Acquire Ingersoll-Rand's Bobcat Unit for $4.9 Billion

(Bloomberg) -- Doosan Infracore Co., South Korea's
largest maker of construction machinery, agreed to buy Ingersoll-
Rand Co.'s Bobcat and other units for $4.9 billion, the biggest
overseas acquisition by a South Korean company.

The company will buy the Bobcat compact-equipment unit,
and the Utility Equipment and Attachments divisions, Incheon,
South Korea-based Doosan Infracore said in an e-mailed statement
today. Ingersoll-Rand has its headquarters in Bermuda.


Read more at Bloomberg Emerging Markets News

South Korea's Kospi Falls From a Record; Samsung Drops Most in Three Years

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks fell on concern
a rally that's made the Kospi index the world's best performer
this month more than reflected earnings prospects. Samsung
Electronics Co. led the retreat, sliding the most in three years.

``Tech stocks are pulling back because people are taking
profit on the recent jumps, not because there's a problem with
their fundamentals,'' said Jeon Jeong Woo, who manages $540
million at Daehan Investment Trust Management Co. in Seoul.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea's Kospi Index Advances; Chipmakers Rise, LG Household Falls

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks advanced for a
sixth day. Samsung Electronics Co. and Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
rose after chipmakers raised prices of computer memory.

LG Household & Health Care Ltd. fell after the company said
it's in exclusive talks to buy Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd.'s bottling
unit in Korea for as much as A$545 million ($467 million).


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korean Stocks Gain More Than 1 Percent for Fourth Day; Samsung Gains

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks advanced more than
1 percent for a fourth day. Samsung Electronics Co. gained on
speculation prices for dynamic random access memory, or DRAM,
will rise, helping improve earnings.

LG.Philips LCD Co. advanced after brokerages including
Citigroup Inc. said the company will turn to profit in the second
quarter.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korean Won Strengthens on Speculation Interest Rates Will Increase

(Bloomberg) -- The South Korean won rose, approaching
the highest this year, on speculation the central bank will raise
interest rates, boosting the appeal of fixed-income assets.

The won, the best performer in the past month of the 10
most-traded Asian currencies, also gained as Finance Minister
Kwon Okyu said today monetary policy should be aimed at
``controlling liquidity'' because prices may rise. The won added
almost 9 percent last year as the central bank raised rates three
times to 4.5 percent. It has left policy unchanged this year.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

South Korea Won Climbs as Consumers More Confident; Government Bonds Drop

(Bloomberg) -- The South Korean won climbed after a
central bank report showed consumers were the most optimistic in
15 months in the second quarter. Bonds declined before a
government auction of debt today.

Growth in Korea's gross domestic product is likely to
strengthen ``gradually'' over the rest of 2007 as domestic
demand picks up, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development said June 20. The won rose to a one-month high June
20, two days after the finance ministry said consumers are
supporting the expansion in Asia's third-largest economy.


Read more at Bloomberg Bonds News

South Korea's Kospi Index Drops on U.S. Subprime Concern; Hynix Declines

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks dropped for a
second day after the near collapse of a Bear Stearns Cos. hedge
fund fueled concern the impact from faltering U.S. subprime
loans will be worse than expected. Hynix Semiconductor Inc. fell.

The Kospi index slid 3.27, or 0.2 percent, to 1767.71 as of
9:30 a.m. in Seoul. The Kosdaq declined 0.3 percent to 807.00.
Kospi 200 futures expiring in September retreated 0.1 percent to
225.75, while the underlying index slipped 0.2 percent to 224.62.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

UPDATE 2-S.Korea panel approves markets law, broker shares jump

(Reuters) - SEOUL, June 15 - Shares of South Korean
brokerages surged on Friday as a key committee backed a new law
the government hopes will trigger a "big bang" for its lagging
financial sector, spurring consolidation and luring in foreign
players.




The approval from the parliamentary finance committee
almost guarantees passage by parliament later this month of the
Capital Markets Integration Act, which is designed to give
brokerages a greater role in shaping the financial sector.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

South Korea's Kospi Index Jumps Most in 11 Months: World's Biggest Mover

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks jumped the most
in 11 months after U.S. retail sales rose and the Federal
Reserve said growth isn't stoking inflation, damping speculation
interest rates will be increased in the world's biggest economy.
LG.Philips LCD Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. led exporters higher.

``As concerns recede a bit people can see what's really
happening, which is that economies are still strong,'' said Kim
Young Il, who oversees about $1.1 billion as chief investment
officer at Hanwha Investment Trust Management Co. in Seoul.
``There will be rate increases but only enough to control,
rather than cut off economic momentum. It's OK to buy stocks.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea's Kospi Jumps Most in 11 Months; LG.Philips, Exporters Advance

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks jumped the most
in 11 months after U.S. retail sales rose and the Federal
Reserve said growth isn't stoking inflation, damping speculation
interest rates will be increased in the world's biggest economy.
LG.Philips LCD Co. and Hyundai Motor Co. led exporters higher.

``As concerns recede a bit people can see what's really
happening, which is that economies are still strong,'' said Kim
Young Il, who oversees about $1.1 billion as chief investment
officer at Hanwha Investment Trust Management Co. in Seoul.
``There will be rate increases but only enough to control,
rather than cut off economic momentum. It's OK to buy stocks.''


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News