The price of Haepyo canola oil and pressed olive oil will increase by up to 20.8 percent from next month. Ottogi also recently raised the price of commercial cooking oil by 20 percent. Cooking oil, such as canola oil and olive oilm are on display at a large mart in Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP] A lighting manufacturing company is losing money on each sale after raw material prices jumped 60 percent. "As we can't raise the price on our products at the rate raw material prices have increased, we face huge losses with the more orders we get," the owner of the manufacturing company said. "I'm considering downsizing our factory as raw material prices will likely rise for a long time." A new survey by the Bank of Korea found that four out of every 10 companies said this year raw material prices have risen by more than 20 percent compared to last year. Two out of every 10 companies said they are considering changes to employment or reducing new business investments in response to … [Read more...] about Losing money on each sale, Korean companies cut back
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Finance sector sees healthy rise in assets in first half
Financial Supervisory Service building in Yeouido, western Seoul. [YONHAP] Assets of financial holding companies increased 7.4 percent in the first half compared to six months earlier as demand for loans rose, Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) data showed Tuesday. Total assets of the 10 financial holding companies increased 194 trillion won ($164 billion) to reach 2,823 trillion won. The 10 companies are KB, Shinhan, Nonghyup, Woori, Hana, BNK, DGB, JB, Korea Investment and Meritz Holdings. By categories, assets owned by investment firms grew the fastest — increasing 18.9 percent or 48.3 trillion won. This was due to an increase in the value of equities they hold and increases in deposits by retail investors for stock trading. Assets of commercial banks increased by 6.5 percent or 128.6 trillion won from a surge in loans. At credit card companies, assets grew by 7.1 percent or 10.3 trillion won from January to June. For insurance companies, assets increased by 3.7 percent … [Read more...] about Finance sector sees healthy rise in assets in first half
Yongsan mixed on hosting presidential office
A placard reads "we welcome the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan Defense Ministry compound," in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Sunday. [YONHAP] Moving the presidential office to Yongsan District, central Seoul, has received a mixed response in Yongsan District itself. The office, which is currently situated in Jongno District, central Seoul, is set to be relocated to the Defense Ministry compound, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol announced during a press conference Sunday morning. Yoon will begin work at the new Yongsan office on May 10, when his term begins. Following the announcement, some local property owners in Yongsan expressed worries while others buzzed with excitement. Redevelopment is the key issue. Skeptics believe that the relocation wil inevitably slow ongoing redevelopment plans, but those who welcomed the news are expecting improvement in the residential environment. A placard opposing the presidential office relocation in Yongsan … [Read more...] about Yongsan mixed on hosting presidential office
PBA open to ‘exchange of players’ with other Asian leagues
Asian league executives including PBA’s Willie Marcial during the EASL Draw on Tuesday at Shangri-La The Fort. –PBA IMAGES MANILA, Philippines—Commissioner Willie Marcial said the PBA is open to welcoming players from other Asian leagues like the Japan B.League and Korean Basketball League as imports amid the influx of Filipino talents overseas. Marcial is meeting with KBL commissioner Kim Hee Ok Tuesday night with one of the points of discussion a potential “exchange of players” as brought up by the Korean league. “Asian imports are welcome here with us any time,” Marcial said in Filipino Tuesday during the East Asia Super League grouping ceremony at Shangri-La Fort where top officials from other top-tier Asian leagues were present. “The KBL has also told us about exchange of players. I told them, we’ll see how it will work with the league and the (PBA) teams.” The B.League has become a hot destination for Filipino players with the likes of the Ravena brothers Kiefer and … [Read more...] about PBA open to ‘exchange of players’ with other Asian leagues