Korean Bank Stocks Rally as Chip Rotation Meets Buyback Bets
Korean bank stocks opened higher on July 8, 2026, extending a run that has made the sector one of the year's most reliable havens whenever the KOSPI wobbles. By
- 02
EU Finalizes Anti-Dumping Duties on Korean Tires Made in China, Forcing Kumho and Nexen to Accelerate Production Shift
The EU confirmed definitive anti-dumping duties on Korean tires made in China: 29.9% for Kumho and Nexen, 3.4% for Hankook. Europe represents 40% of the three makers' combined revenue.
- 03
KEPCO KPS (051600.KS) Q1 2026: Nuclear Ramp Sends Profit Up 375%
KEPCO KPS (051600.KS) Q1 2026: Nuclear Ramp Sends Profit Up 375%
- 04
Hugel Doubles Botulinum Toxin Capacity to 13 Million Vials, Awaiting FDA Nod for New Plant as Letybo Drives 69% Export Mix
Hugel (145020.KQ) doubled its annual botulinum toxin production to 13 million vials with Building B at Chuncheon. FY2025 revenue hit KRW 425.1B (+16.4% 5yr CAGR), OPM ~47%. US FDA registration pending — a key catalyst for Letybo's commercial ramp across 70+ markets.
- 05
South Korea Launches NATO Procurement Talks, Unlocking $9.9B Alliance Market for Defense Firms
Seoul launched formal negotiations for a NATO procurement framework agreement at the Ankara summit, targeting a $9.9B annual market. South Korea gained observer status in NATO's Defense Critical Raw Materials Initiative. Listed beneficiaries include Hanwha Aerospace (267110.KS), KAI (047810.KS), Hyundai Rotem (064350.KS), and LIG Nex1 (079550.KS).
- 06
Samsung (005930.KS): Lee at Sun Valley to Win AI Chip Deals
Lee Jae-yong, executive chairman of Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and head of Korea's most valuable company, left Seoul on July 7 for the annual Sun Valley Co
- 07
Samsung Distributes ₩344.5B in Treasury Shares to 49,345 Non-Semiconductor Employees
Samsung's board approved a ₩344.5 billion treasury share payout for 49,345 DX and CSS employees on July 7, with distribution scheduled for July 8 as part of the 2026 profit-sharing labor agreement.
- 08
Incheon Airport Crosses 1 Billion Passengers in Record 25 Years, the World's Fastest Hub Milestone
Incheon International Airport reached 1 billion cumulative passengers in July 2026 — the fastest any major hub has hit the mark globally — lifting the outlook for Korean Air (003490.KS) and Korea's 30-million-visitor tourism target.
- 09
Hyundai WIA (011210.KS) Q1 2026: Net Profit Slumps 65% on ₩60.1B Russia Base Effect
Hyundai WIA (011210.KS) Q1 2026: Net Profit Slumps 65% on ₩60.1B Russia Base Effect
- 10
Korea's Assembly and Regulators Push to Delist Samsung, SK Hynix Leveraged ETFs After 35.9% Monthly Loss
Korean lawmakers from both parties and financial regulators are calling for the delisting of 14 single-stock leveraged ETFs tied to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which have posted losses as large as 35.9% since their May 27 launch and have driven KRW 212T in trading turnover.
- 11
LG Electronics Posts Record Q2 Operating Profit of ₩1.58 Trillion, Beating Forecasts by 49%
LG Electronics reported its best-ever Q2 with operating profit of KRW 1.58 trillion, up 147%, driven by home appliances, vehicle components, and European heat pump demand. First-half operating profit already exceeds full-year 2025.
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KOSPI Triggers Sixth Circuit Breaker of 2026, Closing at 7,656 as Samsung's Record Earnings Fuel Sell-Off
Samsung Q2 profit of ₩89.4 trillion—the largest in history—failed to support the stock as shares fell nearly 10%, triggering South Korea's sixth circuit breaker of 2026 and closing KOSPI at 7,656.
- 13
LG Chem Wins Seven-Year OLED Patent War at Korea's Supreme Court, Imperiling Samsung Display's Materials Supplier
Korea's Supreme Court upheld LG Chem's patent on deuterium-substituted OLED compounds, dismissing a seven-year challenge by SFC — a materials supplier backed 29.7% by Samsung Ventures. A parallel civil suit seeking a production ban and hundreds of billions of KRW in damages now moves forward on settled patent ground.
- 14
E-Mart (139480.KS) Q1 2026: Operating Profit Hits 14-Year High While Net Income Slips 5%
E-Mart (139480.KS) Q1 2026: Operating Profit Hits 14-Year High While Net Income Slips 5%
- 15
Lotte E&C Prices Second KRW 300B AAA ABS as PF Liabilities Ease, Targeting KRW 770B Cash Windfall
Lotte E&C prices a KRW 300B AAA-rated ABS using construction receivables as it targets KRW 770B early cash recovery and cuts PF liabilities to KRW 2.4T.
- 16
LG Energy Solution Q2 2026: Operating Profit Plunges 77% as EV Slowdown Bites Ultium JV
LG Energy Solution reported Q2 2026 operating profit of ₩113.3B, down 77% YoY, as EV demand slumped and Ultium Cells JV paused US production. Ex-AMPC operating loss was ₩127.7B.
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L&F (066970.KQ) Launches EU Carbon-Tracking Smart Factory
L&F Co. (066970.KQ), a KOSDAQ-listed cathode-material maker that supplies Tesla and Korea's three largest battery cell makers, said on July 7 it has completed a
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