Korea

Bank loans in South Korea taken out by self-employed business owners reached a record high in November.

So as to avoid the mistake that happened when Lone Star Funds acquired Korea Exchange Bank, said Lee Jae Sool.

Many KEB workers hit Hana chairman for trying to pacify angry sentiment over the FSC’s alleged endorsement of the Hana-Lone Star deal.

A "new neutral" policy interest rate for the Bank of Korea is required by the new normal world.

Lone Star has agreed to cut the price of its 4.4 trillion won stake sale in KEB to Hana. Hana Financial Group and the U.S. private equity fund had agreed to lower the purchase price by about 1,490 won per share, or about 11 percent, to 3.9 trillion won, reports Reuters. Hana, South Korea's No.4 financial services group by assets, had originally agreed to pay about 13,390 won per share for a 51 percent stake in Korea Exchange Bank from Lone Star. It had sought to close the transaction early this year but had to extend it due to regulatory approval delays and legal disputes involving stock manipulation charges against Lone Star. Following a guilty verdict on stock manipulation charges, regulators last month ordered the Dallas-based fund to sell down its stake in KEB to below 10 percent within six months.  

Citibank Korea's third-quarter earnings jumped 20.6 percent from a year earlier.

The capital adequacy ratio of South Korean banks fell in the third quarter from three months earlier.

Korean lenders will increase their loan-loss reserves by more than 20 percent to cope with a potential global financial crisis.

South Korea's Financial Services Commission has started an inspection of Korea Exchange Bank as part of a follow-up measure following a sale order.

Hana Financial Group and Kiwoom Securities Co. are eyeing to acquire a package of ailing savings banks whose operation have been suspended since September.

As it holds 6% of the system's total assets and facilitates 30% of the nation's trade finance.

FSC said Lone Star should reduce its 51.02% KEB stake to below 10% by mid-May.

Tomato’s senior executive commits suicide amid probe on debts.

The ratings agency revised the Korea-based bank’s outlook to stable from positive, as there's a risk that its loans may grow well beyond the industry's average.

South Korea's Financial Services Commission will decide this week whether to order Lone Star Funds to lower its 51.02 percent stake in KEB to 10 percent.

Woori Bank plans to sue 3 foreign banks in a New York federal court due to improper sale of risky derivatives that caused it to incur heavy losses.