Kakao shares rose 10.14% to 32,050 Korean won at 9:32 a.m. on the 5th after the company announced plans to repurchase and cancel 5,154,639 common shares. The open-market purchase, valued at approximately 150 billion won, is scheduled to run from the 6th through February 5 next year and is intended to enhance shareholder value ahead of a planned spin-off. The announcement helped overshadow concerns about Kakao's performance, even as third-quarter preliminary consolidated sales rose only within the 0% range year on year. Operating profit reached 240.2 billion won, up 15.5% from the same period a year earlier. The decision followed the CEO's personal acknowledgment at the same day's earnings pre.