Economy
A dispute over regulatory action against Coupang, South Korea’s largest online retailer, has developed into a broader diplomatic challenge, raising concerns about the future of economic and technology ties between South Korea and the United States. The controversy began after South Korean authorities......
In a historic shift for South Korea’s technology sector, semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix has surpassed Samsung Electronics in market capitalization for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the country’s corporate landscape. According to data released by the Korea Exchange......
US financial markets fell sharply after a stronger-than-expected employment report signaled continued economic resilience and reduced expectations for near-term interest rate cuts. The US economy added 172,000 jobs in May, nearly double economists’ forecasts of 80,000 to 85,000. The unemployment......
Asian equity markets advanced after Israel and Iran announced a halt to direct military strikes, easing fears that had driven volatility across global financial systems. The de-escalation offered investors a temporary relief from energy supply risks and geopolitical uncertainty that had weighed on sentiment......
Global equities faced heavy selling pressure as investors reacted to expectations that a major SpaceX initial public offering would pull liquidity out of technology-heavy portfolios. BNP Paribas analysts linked the wave of declines in semiconductor stocks to retail investors liquidating positions to......
Samsung Electronics’ foundry division is approaching a return to profitability in the third quarter of 2026, marking a potential end to nearly four years of sustained losses that have weighed on the company’s semiconductor ambitions. Internal assessments and industry observations indicate......
As military tensions around the Strait of Hormuz entered a third month, Gulf oil-producing states intensified investments in renewable energy projects abroad. The move reflects growing efforts to reduce exposure to disruptions that have constrained hydrocarbon exports and reshaped energy priorities across......
South Korea has overtaken India to become the world’s sixth-largest equity market by total market capitalization, marking a rapid shift in global financial rankings driven by the artificial intelligence boom and surging demand for semiconductor technologies. The combined market value of listed......
Manufacturing activity in South Africa showed signs of easing in May as both demand and production weakened, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released by Absa Group Limited. The seasonally adjusted PMI fell to 50.8 in May from 52.6 in April, indicating that while the sector......
BP has announced the sale of a 5% stake in the Browse liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Western Australia to South Korean energy company GS Energy, marking another step in the British group's ongoing portfolio optimization strategy. The transaction reflects BP’s objective of strengthening......
Japan and South Korea are grappling with mounting shortages of naphtha, a petroleum product widely used in plastics, industrial chemicals and printing inks, as the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt energy supply chains across East Asia. The supply crunch, triggered after......
Morocco and Indonesia have formalized a bilateral agreement to mutually recognize halal certification systems, a move designed to ease trade flows and expand access for Moroccan exporters to one of the world’s largest halal consumer markets. The agreement focuses on aligning certification standards......
Three supertankers have carried around six million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz in a single day, marking the largest recorded movement of oil cargo since the outbreak of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran in February 2026. The shipment was bound for Asian......
