With the U.S recovery looking a bit iffy after last week's unemployment report, Japan and Britain battling huge budget problems and Europe in trouble because of the Greek debt crisis, investors have quite naturally shifted their focus to Asia.
But even there the pickings seem a bit slim. Asian stalwarts China and India show signs of overheating (India more so than China). Taiwan and Singapore - both excellent markets - seem pretty fully valued right now.
That leaves us with one Asian market whose economy is enjoying well-balanced growth, whose government is a model of competence and efficiency and whose stock market is surprisingly reasonably valued.
I'm talking about South Korea.
To discover the five essential Korea profit plays, please read on...
Korea
Article Index
Six Ways to Invest in Korea - Asia's Can't-Miss Market
Why the Yuan Won't Be an Issue at the U.S. China Summit
The United States rolled out the big guns for the second Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) with China since the Obama administration took office. The two-day talks began yesterday (Monday) with such luminaries as U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke taking part in the Beijing summit.
The last Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the world's largest and third-largest economies was riddled with bickering over currencies and the placing of blame for the global recession. However, officials on both sides of the Pacific this time around have taken a more tempered approach in the hopes that more productive talks will emerge.
U.S. officials will undoubtedly make addressing the value of the yuan a priority, but if the meeting's cordial opening is any indication, they will do so humbly. That tactic would be well advised, considering the issue of currency valuation has been a major point of consternation between East and West.
The last Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the world's largest and third-largest economies was riddled with bickering over currencies and the placing of blame for the global recession. However, officials on both sides of the Pacific this time around have taken a more tempered approach in the hopes that more productive talks will emerge.
U.S. officials will undoubtedly make addressing the value of the yuan a priority, but if the meeting's cordial opening is any indication, they will do so humbly. That tactic would be well advised, considering the issue of currency valuation has been a major point of consternation between East and West.
It's the World's Hottest Market - And it Isn't China
Which global economy grew at an annual rate of 11% in the second quarter, and will report a second-consecutive double-digit advance when it reports on Monday? Hint: It isn’t China. But you are looking in the correct part of the world. The economy in question is South Korea, which has enjoyed an astonishing rebound since […]
Toyota Launches New Model at Home, Plans Expansion into Korean Market
Toyota Motor Corp. (ADR NYSE: TM), the world's largest automaker, today (Tuesday) launched efforts to maintain its leadership position by introducing a new hybrid model in Japan and expanding into the Korean market where it will face stiff competition from Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. (PINK: HYMLF). The announcements came on the heels of a surprise […]
Six Ways to Capitalize on Korea's Growing Global Muscle
By Martin HutchinsonContributing Editor With key countries in the world economy spiraling toward recession, and even India and China panicking about domestic inflation levels, there's one country in particular that still seems to offer good value in its equities markets, thanks to an economic outlook that combines decent growth and only modest inflation. That country […]
Scandal-Shrouded Lee Kun Hee to Resign from Samsung After Two-Decade Run
By Mike Caggeso Associate Editor Surrounded by charges of tax evasion and breach of duty, Chairman Lee Kun Hee will step down from Samsung Group - parent company of 59 businesses and South Korea's largest company. He'll be joined by Vice Chairman Lee Hak Soo and Presient Kim In Joo, who will quit by the […]
With New Leadership And a Tougher Stance, it's Time For Investors to Take a Look at Korea
By Martin Hutchinson Contributing Editor Amid all the gloom investors are feeling right now, South Korea has produced some sunny rays. On April 9, the Asian Tiger suggested that its economy could accelerate and that its stock market could take off. The splendidly named Grand National Party, allied to the new President Lee Myung-bak, won […]
SK Telecom Shares Soar On Billion Dollar China Investment
By Jennifer Yousfi Managing Editor Shares of Korea-based SK Telecom Co. Ltd. (SKM) had a great trading day yesterday [Tuesday] based on returns from its shrewd investment in China Unicom Ltd. (CHU). Hong Kong-listed China Unicom had a 6.6% gain after a local newspaper reported China's government had approved a restructuring plan for the country's […]
Three Ways to Profit Alongside Warren Buffett
By Martin Hutchinson Contributing Editor For all you global investors out there, riddle me this: What has investment guru and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) Chairman Warren Buffett recently bought 20 of that we should be looking to invest in ourselves? Corporate jets? No. While a famously frugal man, he's owned several hundred of them, […]
China's Commodity Consumption Fuels Hyundai Heavy's Record Profits
By Mike Caggeso Associate Editor China's enormous importing and exporting demands had a huge hand in record third-quarter profits for the world's largest shipbuilding company, Korea-based Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Profits rose to $479 million (434.7 billion won) from $232 million (210.7 billion won) a year earlier. Demand from China is fueling record earnings for […]
Korean Economy Soars, Credit Rating Improves
The economy of South Korea grew at a 1.7% pace in the second quarter