Nike Beats Q3 Estimates but China Weakness and Margin Pressure Weigh on Outlook 
Bank of Japan Eyes Further Rate Hikes Amid Middle East Tensions and Inflation Pressures 
Gold Prices Surge as U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Talks Spark Market Optimism 
UAE's Largest Natural Gas Facility Suspended After Attack-Triggered Fire 
March 2025 Jobs Report: Strong Headline Numbers Hide Deeper Economic Concerns 
Russell 1000 Companies Hit $2.2T Cash Record While Aggressively Reinvesting in Growth 
South Korea's Inflation Rises Modestly in March Amid Oil Price Pressures 
Vietnam GDP Growth Slows in Q1 2026 Amid Middle East Oil Crisis 
Australia's Trade Surplus Surges in February on Gold Export Boom 
Gulf War Ceasefire Hopes Weigh on Dollar Ahead of Trump Address 
Annie Altman Amends Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman 
Asian Stocks Drop as Trump Signals Iran War Escalation 
Eli Lilly and Insilico Medicine Forge $2.75 Billion AI-Driven Drug Discovery Deal 
KPMG UK Cuts 440 Audit Jobs Amid Low Attrition and Cooling Professional Services Demand 
Trump Administration Plans 100% Tariffs on Pharmaceutical Imports 
MATCH Act Targets ASML and Chinese Chipmakers in New U.S. Export Crackdown 
U.S. Stock Futures Steady Amid Iran Ceasefire Talks and Trump Address 
Coupang, the leading e-commerce company in South Korea, is officially opening its finance business. Through this new unit, it will be able to offer loans to small businesses so they can pay for their purchases in easy installment plans.
As per The Korea Herald, Coupang stated in its filing with the Financial Supervisory Service on Monday that it will start offering loans under its new business division Coupang Financial. This subsidiary was set up in January of this year. The company just started the new financial business after the financial regulators issued approval last Friday.
Business analysts think that Coupang’s foray into the financial business is actually part of its efforts to counteract its losses that have increased over the years. It was mentioned that the company’s operating losses have gone up to $1.4 billion in 2021 and this amount was three times more compared to the previous year. The amount was also a record high for Coupang since it was first launched in 2010.
“Coupang Financial plans to roll out financial products tailored to the needs of small- and medium-sized business owners,” the company said in a statement without revealing more information about the new finance service.
Extending loans to small businesses and credit to their customers is just one way the e-commerce giant could branch out, one industry source said, noting authorities are receptive to business expansion led by technology companies more than ever.
Prior to the start of Coupang’s finance service, it was last month when it was first reported that the company is jumping into this business field. Korea Joongang Daily also reported at that time that the company is bound to be in competition once again with its rival, Naver, which is already offering loans.
Finally, with Coupang and Naver’s new finance service offerings, they have become the first e-commerce marketplace in South Korea to offer such direct loans to customers. With the FSS’ approval, Coupang is expected to offer different loan products. It will provide loans to its sellers based on the loan limits and interest rates that will be approved of after assessments.
