Korean stocks to outperform Asian peers: Barclays

Korean stocks will outperform Asian equities in the second half as the region’s cheapest stock market and worst-performing currency attract more investors, according to Barclays Wealth. The won may also rebound.

The MSCI Korea Index is trading at less than 9 times estimated earnings for the next 12 months, and the valuation is more than one standard deviation below its five-year average, according to Barclays Wealth. 

The won is also "much more inexpensive" than Asian peers, said Manpreet Gill, Singapore-based Asia strategist at the Barclays Wealth, the Barclays Plc unit that had $229 billion in client assets as of 2009.

 

REACHING OUT — BC Card Co. said Wednesday that it has completed construction of the BC Card House, a vocational training center for the mentally disabled on Geoje Island, South Gyeongsang Province. BC Card