Global Funds Bet on Korean Stocks' Big Break on Reform Tailwinds
After years of frustration with South Korea's underperforming stock market, investors are growing more optimistic that the new president's push for shareholder-friendly policies will finally deliver stronger returns.
Global money managers, including Aberdeen Investments, Pictet Wealth Management, and Franklin Templeton, have recently added positions or upgraded their outlook on local stocks. They are encouraged by newly-elected Lee Jae-myung's vows to boost corporate governance and nearly double the market's return, after months of political chaos in the nation triggered by his predecessor's short-lived martial law imposition.
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2 hours ago
- Yahoo
India plans rare earth magnet incentives as supply threat mounts, sources say
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
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NAVER Expands Startup Investments in Silicon Valley with the Planned Establishment of NAVER Ventures
- Key executives, including Founder Lee Hae-jin and CEO Choi Soo-yeon, engage in discussions with the local startup ecosystem- The new investment initiative will focus on investing in promising startups in North America, starting with video AI startup 'TwelveLabs'- NAVER has a strong track record of tech startup investments through its NAVER D2SF and is also known for acquiring Poshmark SEONGNAM, South Korea, June 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVER Corporation (CEO Choi Soo-yeon) announced the planned establishment of "NAVER Ventures," its new global venture investment initiative in Silicon Valley. The launch marks a significant step in NAVER's strategy to expand its global footprint and foster innovation by investing in promising startups in North America. NAVER Ventures aims to build on NAVER's experience in supporting startups through its NAVER D2SF, which has invested numerous early-stage technology startups and supported their overseas expansion. The company also expanded its global portfolio by acquiring Poshmark, a leading U.S.-based social commerce platform, in 2023. As part of its commitment to the Silicon Valley ecosystem, NAVER Founder and Chairman Lee Hae-jin, CEO Choi Soo-yeon, and Kim Namsun, President of investments visited the region to engage directly with entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors. They hosted the "Venturing NAVER's Next Chapter" networking event on June 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel, where they discussed NAVER's vision for supporting startups and fostering technological innovation. NAVER Ventures has confirmed its first investment in TwelveLabs, a video AI startup recognized for its innovative technology. The investment aligns with NAVER's focus on AI competitiveness and its strategy to collaborate with global startups to drive future growth. The new investment initiative, NAVER Ventures, overseen by Kim Namsun, is expected to complete its establishment process later this month. It will invest capital and expertise to help category-leading companies accelerate the growth of their businesses (/END) About NAVER Founded in 1999, NAVER is South Korea's largest Internet company and one of the world's leading technology companies. NAVER has grown into a global ICT company that leads in cutting-edge technologies and operates a diverse portfolio of businesses, including commerce, fintech, content, cloud services, AI, and robotics, as well as other global online services such as LINE mobile messenger, Webtoon and Webnovel publishing, SNOW video camera app and ZEPETO metaverse platform. NAVER is expanding its global footprint through strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as SoftBank, Poshmark, and Wattpad. Currently, TEAM NAVER strengthens business portfolios and expands its service regions, including Japan, North America, and Europe. In 2024, NAVER reported sales of KRW 10.74 trillion (approximately USD 7.5 billion) and NAVER is ranked as the 12th largest company in terms of market capitalization in Korea. To learn more, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE NAVER Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Why Plug Power Stock Popped Today
Plug Power wants authority to issue more shares. Either that, or it wants to conduct a reverse stock split. If shareholders let it do the first thing, it might be able to avoid doing the second thing. 10 stocks we like better than Plug Power › Shares of Plug Power (NASDAQ: PLUG), the maker of fuel cell systems -- and now also of the hydrogen to fuel them -- shot 13% higher through 1:11 p.m. ET Friday, as investors received encouragement that the company might be able to avoid a devastating (to morale) reverse stock split. Our story begins one week ago, when Plug Power sent shareholders a preliminary proxy statement advising of the matters that will be raised at its July 3 annual general meeting: "Approval of an amendment to the Company's charter to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company's common stock from 1,500,000,000 shares to 3,000,000,000 shares;" and "Approval of ... a reverse stock split ... at a ratio of not less than 1-for-5 and not more than 1-for-200." Unable to earn a profit selling fuel cells or hydrogen, Plug Power has to continually create and sell new shares to keep itself solvent. But as its share count approaches 1.1 billion, the company will soon need to authorize more shares to keep this ball rolling. Either that, or it must shrink its share count through a reverse split -- and then resume growing the share count again. As a business model, this all leaves much to be desired. I certainly wouldn't invest in Plug Power myself. But as points out today, Plug is pleading with investors to approve at least one of the above options so that it can remain in business. As a consolation prize, Plug is also assuring investors that if they raise the ceiling on shares outstanding, it can avoid the reverse-split option. Investors seem encouraged by this assurance today. That's why they're bidding Plug stock up. Before you buy stock in Plug Power, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Plug Power wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $674,395!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $858,011!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 997% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 2, 2025 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Plug Power Stock Popped Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
