Market rally lifts Korea's five financial groups to W13tr profit

South Korea's five largest financial groups posted a record 13.12 trillion won ($8.97 billion) in combined first-half net income, marking the first time the total topped 13 trillion won, as a stock market rally boosted brokerage and asset management fees. Combined profit rose 9.7 percent from a year earlier, according to filings released Thursday and Friday. KB Financial Group led with 3.88 trillion won, followed by Shinhan Financial Group at 3.44 trillion won and Hana Financial Group at 2.4 tri