Australian retailers, already hit by the economic downturn, are finding ways to cut
costs during the seasonally quiet February and March period.

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean unit of troubled U.S. auto giant
General Motors Corp. said Friday its auto sales fell 8.1 percent in 2008 from a

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, said
Friday its vehicle sales gained 6.9 percent in 2008 from a year earlier on

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Ssangyong Motor Co., the South Korean unit of China's
Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC), said Friday its vehicle sales tumbled

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will slap anti-dumping duties on polyester
yarn products from China and Taiwan for the next three years, the government said
Friday.

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest
automaker, said Friday its vehicle sales gained 2.9 percent in 2008 from a year

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean unit of French automaker Renault SA
said Friday its vehicle sales grew 14.4 percent in 2008 from a year earlier on

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturers' financial conditions
deteriorated to a record low in December and are expected to worsen as a global

SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean lenders need to restructure nonviable
companies as quickly as possible in order to supply much-needed funds to viable

(ATTN: ADDS more information from para 6)
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea posted its first trade deficit in more than