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The article discusses the meager and declining sales of automobiles in India by car manufacturers Volkswagen AG, Ford Motor Co., and General Motors Co. Although some cite a paucity among the three of compact vehicles that are popular in India, analyst Max Warburton says profit margins on car sales are not big enough for Western producers to exert greater efforts there.

The article reports on the decline in the value of South Korea's won in September 2011, which prompted Korean companies that rely on imported oil and other raw materials to implement cost cutting measures to compensate for rising costs.

The article reports on a withdrawal by STX Corp. of its bid for a controlling stake in South Korean chip maker Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

The article reports on a raid at the office of web-based company Google Inc. in Seoul, South Korea by the Korean Fair Trade Commission for alleged unfair trade in the country's mobile-search-engine market in September 2011.

The article reports that the South Korean shipping-to-shipbuilding conglomerate STX Group is negotiating with Abu Dhabi's state-owned fund Aabar in the United Arab Emirates about partnership to bid for a 15 percent stake in the memory-chip maker Hynix Semiconductor Inc. on August 25, 2011.

The article reports on the escalation of the territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea over the Dokdo/Takeshima islands as Japan's foreign ministry called on its staffers to boycott Korean Airlines Co. for flying over the contested territory in June 2011.

The article focuses on the plan of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. shareholders to launch the sale of their controlling stake in the company by the end of June 2011.

This section offers news briefs on corporations as of May 25, 2011, including a 19 percent drop in the fiscal fourth quarter of Medtronic Inc., a plan by the Hyundai Motor Group to resume engine production that was closed due to a strike, and the departure of Mark Steinberg, the agent for golfer Tiger Woods, from IMG.

This section offers news briefs on corporations as of May 23, 2011, including an automobile production disruption at Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. caused by a labor strife at Yoosung Enterprise Co., a regulatory support received by the drug Benlysta from Human Genome Sciences Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC, and the plan of Jet Airways (India) Ltd. to sell and lease back some of its Boeing planes.

The article reports on the goal of South Korean car manufacturer Kia Motors Corp. to raise its global market share to 3.4 percent in 2011 with a major design overhaul and improving reputation for quality.

This section offers news briefs related to corporations, including a planned joint venture between Daimler AG and Robert Bosch GmbH, a tire recall by Kumho Tire Co. and bids for Shanghai Motel Management Co.

This section offers business news briefs, including call by South Korean shipbuilders for Posco to boost its shipbuilding plate production, the increase of Swiss watch exports in February 2011 and plans by Leonard Green & Partners LP to purchase BJ's Wholesale Club.

The article reports on the plan by GM Korea Co. to cut production in an effort to prepare for a possible lack of automotive parts from Japan after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in the country.

This section offers news briefs concerning business enterprises, including the decision of General Motors Co. to drop the Daewoo name from its South Korea unit, the plan of T-Mobile USA to sell its nonstrategic assets and the plan of Wal-mart to gradually reduce the prices of its fruits and vegetables and lower the amount of fats, sugars and salts in the food it sells in the U.S.

The article reports that the conflict among creditors over financing has clouded Hyundai Group's deal to buy a controlling stake in Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co.

The article reports on the statement of the government of South Korea that 11 parties have submitted letters of intent to bid for a controlling stake in Woori Finance Holdings Co.

This section offers news briefs related to the financial services industry, including the release of a report by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli which cites a prediction that Wall Street is set to earn 19 billion U.S. dollars in 2010, the signing of a preliminary agreement by Hana Financial Group Inc. on the purchase of a controlling stake in Korea Exchange Bank from Lone Star Funds, and the reorganization of the risk-management team at Regions Financial Corp.

An interview with Peter Bahnsuk Kim, vice chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of LG Chem, is presented.

The article presents updates corporate earnings, including the decision of Daimler AG on October 28, 2010 to increase its full-year earnings forecast, the increase in third-quarter net profit of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and the third-quarter loss of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

The article reports on the joint venture between Hyundai Motor Co. and Ziyang Nanjun Automobile Co. for the commercial vehicle market in China.

The article reports on the launch of the first pure electric vehicle of Hyundai Motor Co. in the South Korean market called BlueOn on September 9, 2010, as the government expects mass-produced electric cars by 2020.

The article reports on the move by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. of India to acquire a majority stake in fellow automobile manufacturer Ssangyong Motor Co. as part of a larger plan to tap into the overseas sport-utility-vehicle markets.

The article reports on the increase in profit of South Korean steel company Posco in the second quarter of 2010 as demand for steel increases.

The article reports that the Prius hybrid vehicle from Toyota Motor Corp. remains the top best-selling automobile in Japan in March 2010.

The article reports on the higher sales of the automobile manufacturer General Motors (GM) Co. in China compared with its sales in the U.S. in March 2010.

The article reports on the decision of Kumho Industrial Co. to issue a 2.252 trillion won rights offering in a move that will prevent the firm from being delisted and help creditors to proceed with a debt-workout program for the firm.

The article reports on the plan of the creditors of Hynix Semiconductor Inc. to name a new chief executive officer (CEO) to succeed Kim Jong-Kap, whose term will end in March 2010, during a board meeting on March 5.

This section offers news briefs on business enterprises in the U.S. as of January 2010, including the move of CF Industries Holdings Inc. to withdraw its offer to purchase fellow fertilizer maker Terra Industries Inc., settlement of a lawsuit accusing poultry company Tyson Foods Inc. of falsely claiming its chickens were raised without antibiotics and the plan of Target Corp. to resume its share-buyback scheme that it suspended two years ago.

The article reports on the goal of South Korea-based LG Electronics Inc. to increase the sales of its liquid crystal display (LCD) television (TV) sets to 25 million in 2010 to claim 15% of the global market. According to the firm, it plans to promote the Infinia, a light emitting diode (LED) TV launched in 2009, as a key growth engine to achieve its sales target. It also mentions the plan of the firm to sell 2.5 million Blu-ray disc players this year.

This section offers news briefs concerning corporations, including the restructuring plan of Kumho Asiana Group, orders in Beazer Homes USA Inc. and the alliance of AirAsia Bhd.

The article reports on the decision of Kumho Asiana Group to sell a controlling stake in its Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. unit to a private equity fund led by Korea Development Bank (KDB) for 2.5 billion U.S. dollars as part of a restructuring program to help ease its financial problems. The sale will help the firm reduce the debt it took in 2006 to buy the construction unit. According to KDB, it will launch another private equity fund to help Kumho raise additional funds.

The article reports on the bidders for Times Ltd., a supermarket chain in China, which includes Wumart Stores Inc. of China and Lotte Shopping Co. of South Korea. Chairman Kenneth Fang and his family, which owns 72.3% of Times, has decided to sell the retailer in August 2009. It mentions that the market capitalization of the retailer is at 4.06 billion Hong Kong dollars. The value of the 72.3% stake is estimated at 2.94 billion Hong Kong dollars.

The article reports on the corporate profit loss posted by Korean Air Co. in the second quarter of 2009, amid lower jet-fuel prices and a strengthening Korean won against the U.S. dollar. The South Korean airline company has generated a net profit of 78.5 billion Korean won for the period. A brief overview is also given on its operating losses and sales performance.

The article reports on the end of the 77-day strike at Ssangyong Corp. after the union agreed to a revised plan to cut jobs at the South Korean automaker. Under the agreement, the ratio of dismissed workers will be lowered. A loss of 316 billion won was posted by the firm because of the strike. A bankruptcy protection was filed by the firm in February 2009 and its restructuring plan involved cutting of 36% of the workforce which was opposed by the dismissed workers.

The article reports on an increase in the net profit of South Korean automobile maker Hyundai Motor Co. in the second-quarter of 2009 aided by shareholding gains from affiliates in China and India and tax incentives that boosted domestic sales. The company's profit rose 811.9 billion won for the three months ended June 30, 2009 from 546.9 billion won a year earlier. Senior executive vice president Chung Taehwan said that the company posted strong results with differentiated marketing efforts and fuel-efficient cars amid the recession.

The article reports on a three-year contract signed by Samsung Engineering Co. with Sonatrach to modernize an oil refinery in Skikda, Algeria. The agreement is said to be the largest plant order received by a South Korean contractor as of July 2009. According to the company, it is keeping unchanged annual targets of seven trillion won in new orders and four trillion won in sales.

The article reports on the plan of Kumho Asiana Group to sell its unit, Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., to improve liquidity. According to a spokeswoman, the airline conglomerate in South Korea has various options, one of which is to sell a 72 percent stake owned by the group and other financial investors.

The article reports on the increase in net profit posted by South Korea's car maker, Kia Motors Corp. in the first quarter of 2009. The company posted a net profit of 97.4 billion won, compared with a net loss of 34.8 billion won in 2008. According to analysts, the favorable foreign-exchange rates will continue to benefit Kia.

The article reports on the decline in first-quarter net profit posted by Hyundai Motor Co. at 43% as the global economic slowdown weakened vehicle sales, although it expects sales to recover from the second quarter of 2009. The South Korean carmaker reported net profit for the three months ended March 31 to 225 billion won from 392.7 billion won a year earlier. Company sales for the quarter declined 26% to 6.032 trillion won. Operating profit also went down 71% year-to-year to 153.8 billion won.

The article reports on the decline in profit of South Korean crude-steel company Posco for the first quarter of 2009 amid slack demand and higher costs from a weaker Korean currency. The company reportedly continued to cut output in the first quarter to hold down inventories. Its net profit for the quarter fell 325 billion won from 1.031 trillion won during the same quarter in 2007, while sales rose due to higher product prices.

This article announces the plan of Ssangyong Motor Co. to reduce its workforce by 36% and sell assets as part of its restructuring measures to help company survive global recession. Ssangyong is the South Korean unit of China's state-owned SAIC Motor Corp. Ssangyong has been under court receivership since February 2009. The company expects to save $178 million by reducing its workforce.

The article reports on the net loss posted by GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Corp., in 2008. According to GM Daewoo Vice President Jay Cooney, high oil prices led to lower sales of sport-utility vehicles, while rising manufacturing costs and volatile foreign-exchange rates affect earnings. The company posted a net loss of 875.69 billion won in 2008, compared with net profit of 540.51 won in 2007. It was noted that GM Daewoo is negotiating with the Korean government to secure short-term financial support.

The article reports on the statement of Hyundai Motor Co. (HMC) that its fourth-quarter ending December 31, 2008 net profit fell to 243.6 billion won from 338 billion won for the same period in 2007. The 28% drop in its net profits forced HMC to postpone a $600 million investment in Sao Paulo, Brazil and delay its plan to build a 540 billion won ($394.2 million) plant in Russia by January 2011. HMC's problems is in contrast to the almost double increase in fourth-quarter net profits of Kia Motors Corp. (KMC) which is 39% owned by HMC.

The article reports on the termination of the deal by Korea Development Bank (KDB) to sell its controlling stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. to Hanwha Group because Hanwha wants to pay in installment. KDB said that Hanwha's effort to buy in installment demonstrates that it has no willingness to proceed with the deal although it agreed previously to lump sum cash payment of 6.5 trillion won. Under the terms, Hanwha agreed to pay in full by the end of March 2009 but given its problem in raising cash, the offer came unsurprisingly.

The article reports on the decision of Korea Development Bank (KDB) to forbid Posco to make a solo bid to buy a stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. According to it, the bid submitted by a Posco consortium was invalidated by KDB due to a violation of the fairness and transparency of the bidding process.

The article reports that South Korean steel maker Posco posted a 40 percent profit increase in the third quarter of 2008. Posco vice-president Park ki-Hong said that their bigger exports to India, China and the Middle East account for this. It is reported that Posco is making a bid for an ownership share in Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, making it lone bidder after its consortium partner GS Holdings pulled out of the plan.

The article reports on the decline in the net profit of Hyundai Motor by 11% in the second-quarter of 2008 as a result of poor returns from investments in overseas units. The company also mentioned that it will lessen its output by 40,000 units in the U.S. due to lower demand for automobiles that consume more fuel. Hyundai also said that its shareholding gains have decreased from 189 billion won a year ago to 95 billion won in the first half of 2008.

The article reports on the increase in the net profit of Posco by 34% for the second-quarter of 2008 due to higher steel prices and strong domestic sales in South Korea. The company also elevated its 2008 sales target from 28 trillion won to 31 trillion won and raised its operating profit-goal from 4.8 trillion won to 5.7 trillion won. Lee Dong-hee, senior executive vice president of Posco, said that the company will face difficulty in meeting the current revised sales and operating profit targets despite high raw-material prices.

The article reports on the decision of South Korean steelmaker Posco to acquire the 19.8 stake in miner Macarthur Coal Ltd., held by company founder Ken Talbot, to help it compensate for rising coal prices in 2008. The Australian mining company is the world's biggest producer of pulverized coal used in the steelmaking process. Steelmaker ArcelorMittal bought a 14.9 percent stake in Macarthur in May. Share price of Macarthur increased by 3 percent to $20.40 Australian dollar in closing trading in Sydney, New South Wales.

The article reports that South Korean-based LG Electronics Inc., a mobile handset maker, expects a 2007 fourth-quarter operating profit margin of about 8% for its mobile handsets. Bae Jae-hoon, executive vice president of the company's overseas sales and marketing division, stated that LG plans to sell about 500,000 Viewty phones in Korea in 2008 and is planning to introduce a model to replace the Shine phone in the second quarter. According to the article, WPP Group's Mindshare and Y&R Worldwide advertising agencies help strengthen LG's global branding.