Asian Currencies Decline on Speculation Investors to Cut Regional Holdings

(Bloomberg) -- Asian currencies declined, led by the
Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso, on speculation investors
are cutting holdings in the region as signs mount that the U.S.
economy is slowing.

The rupiah fell to a one-year low and the South Korean won
slipped to its weakest in a month, joining declines in stocks, as
reports on Aug. 3 showed U.S. employers added fewer jobs in July
and service industries growth slowed. The U.S. is the second-
biggest buyer of Indonesia's and South Korean exports.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

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

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

South Korea's Stocks Slide on U.S. Housing Concern; Kookmin Bank Drops

(Bloomberg) -- South Korean stocks fell for the
third day. Kookmin Bank led declines on concern a deepening U.S.
housing slump will slow the world's biggest economy and prompt
investors to shun equities for safer assets.

``The housing-market problems may have a bigger-than-
expected damping effect on the U.S. economy,'' said Kim Han Jin,
vice president of Fides Investment Management in Seoul, which
manages $1 billion in equities. ``That could continue if consumer
spending fails to offset those negatives,'' while ``people want
to cut their holdings of riskier assets in emerging markets,'' he
said.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

South Korea's Kospi Index Falls, Led by Kookmin, Shinhan, Hyundai Heavy

(Bloomberg) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index,
the Kospi Index, fell 0.41 percent at 9:05 a.m.

The index of 732 companies traded on the Korea Exchange
fell 7.74 to 1,875.48. Among the stocks in the index, 177 rose,
451 fell and 104 were unchanged.


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

LG Elec swings to biggest profit in 3 years

(Reuters) - SEOUL, July 19 - South Korea's LG Electronics Inc. swung to a profit in the second quarter as a turnaround in its LCD venture and strong mobile phone sales outweighed heavy losses in its plasma display business.



LG, the world's No. 5 handset maker, is likely to enjoy a stronger second half as a recovery at its liquid crystal display


Read more at Reuters.com Market News