Shinhan Bank and Hyundai Motor have signed a business agreement to develop automotive financial products, with plans to launch a joint savings account offering preferential interest rates for Hyundai vehicle buyers in early next year.
The agreement was signed at Hyundai Motor's headquarters on Gangnam-daero in Seoul, with Jang Ho-sik, Shinhan Bank's CIB Group head, and Kim Seung-chan, Hyundai Motor's Domestic Business Division head, in attendance. The two companies will pursue joint financial product operations and collaborative promotions.
Global Exchanges Push for 24-Hour Trading
Nasdaq plans to file documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for five-day, 24-hour trading, with implementation expected in the second half of next year. The extended hours would add seven hours of overnight trading (9 p.m. to 4 a.m. the next day) to regular trading hours (4 a.m. to 8 p.m.).
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) are also planning to introduce 24-hour trading systems, while the London Stock Exchange (LSE) has begun reviewing the feasibility of extending trading hours.
Kiwoom Securities Launches First Promissory Notes
Kiwoom Securities has launched its first promissory note product approximately one month after receiving authorization from the Financial Services Commission. The "Kiwoom Promissory Notes" are products with maturities of one year or less, offered in two types: flexible (2.45% annual interest before tax) and fixed-term (2.45-3.45% annual interest before tax).
The minimum subscription amount is 1 million won, with a total special offering limit of approximately 300 billion won. Kim Hak-gyun, chairman of the Korea Venture Capital Association, became the first subscriber to the flexible type, while Song Sung-moon, captain of the Kiwoom Heroes baseball team, was the first fixed-term subscriber.
Shinhan Asset Management Lists Shipbuilding Equipment ETF
Shinhan Asset Management has listed the "SOL Shipbuilding Equipment ETF," which invests 100% in the shipbuilding equipment sector. Major holdings include Hanwha Engine, HD Hyundai Marine Solution, and Hyundai Hims, covering ship engines, insulation materials, and valves.
Korea's global shipbuilding market share rose 7 percentage points year-on-year this year, with competitiveness strengthening around high-value vessel types such as LNG carriers, eco-friendly ships, and ultra-large container ships.
Seoul Housing Market Outlook Rebounds
According to the Housing Industry Research Institute, Seoul's housing business outlook index for December rose 23.3 points from November to 95.0. Gyeonggi Province increased 16.6 points to 79.4, and Incheon rose 21.7 points to 79.3, with all metropolitan areas recording gains.
Following the government's "October 15 measures," Seoul's index had plunged from 106.8 in October to 71.7 in November. Business sentiment improved on rising apartment prices in popular areas such as Songpa and Dongjak districts in Seoul, while a "balloon effect" appeared in some areas of Incheon and Gyeonggi outside designated regulation zones.
KOTRA Identifies Key Global Market Trends for 2026
The Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) identified "supply chain reorganization," "physical AI," and "K-consumer goods" as key global market keywords for next year at its "2026 Global Market Entry Strategy Briefing."
Major economies including the U.S., EU, and Japan are accelerating "friend-shoring" strategies centered on semiconductors and batteries, viewing Korean companies as key partners. The data center market in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is projected to grow from $3.5 billion in 2024 to $9.5 billion by 2030.
Japan is concentrating public-private investment on four strategic industries—semiconductors, secondary batteries, hydrogen, and shipbuilding—following the inauguration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
