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South Korea's inflation rate climbed in November to 1.5% year on year, from a 45-month low in October, as the country grapples with a weakening Korean won and slowing exports. Last Thursday, South Korea's central bank unexpectedly cut rates by 25 basis points to 3%, marking the first time that the Bank of Korea had enacted two back-to-back cuts since 2009. South Korea narrowly avoided a technical recession in the third quarter, with GDP growing 0.1% quarter on quarter, according to the bank's advance estimates, following a contraction of 0.2% in the second quarter. South Korea's currency has weakened against the greenback over October and November, hitting a two-year high of 1,411.31 as tariff fears from the incoming Trump administration take hold. Data from the World Integrated Trade Solution platform — set up by the World Bank — lists the U.S. as South Korea's second largest trade partner.
Persons: BOK Organizations: Reuters, Bank of, Trump, World, World Bank Locations: Seoul, Korean, Bank of Korea, Korea
South Korea's central bank has cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%, the first rate cut from the BOK since the Federal Reserve started tightening its monetary policy in March 2022. This was in line with a poll of economists from Reuters, who forecasted a rate cut. At that time, South Korea's inflation stood at 2.6%, but climbed sharply to hit 6.3% in July 2022, its highest in over 20 years. Oh noted that macro conditions are supportive of a rate cut, with a "favourable" inflationary backdrop. Oh predicts that after the October cut of 25 basis points, three more consecutive cuts will follow on a quarterly basis, eventually bringing the BOK's benchmark interest rate to 2.5%.
Persons: BOK, Morgan Stanley's, Kathleen Oh, We've, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Bank of, Federal Reserve, Reuters Locations: Bank of Korea, Seoul, Korea's, Korea
Signage for Bank of Korea is displayed atop the central bank's headquarters building in Seoul, South Korea, on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. SINGAPORE — Asia-Pacific markets opened mostly higher Friday, breaking ranks with Wall Street that saw key benchmarks slide as investors digested a sticky U.S. inflation report. Investors in Asia are also focused on policy decisions from the Bank of Korea on Friday. South Korea's central bank is expected to deliver its first rate cut since March 2022, according to a Reuters poll, bringing down its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%. The highly anticipated briefing session is expected to unveil fresh fiscal stimulus package as Beijing attempts to boost its economy.
Organizations: Bank of, Investors, Bank of Korea, China's Ministry of Finance Locations: Bank of Korea, Seoul, South Korea, South Korea's, SINGAPORE — Asia, Pacific, Asia, Korea's, Beijing
Read previewSpeculation has been growing that North Korea could send troops to Ukraine. As of now, the prospect of North Korean soldiers being deployed to Ukraine is speculative and unlikely, experts told Business Insider. "Given what we know about nutrition in North Korea, even in the army, they might have issues," he told BI. But if it does, he added that North Korean soldiers may "simply" be helping rebuild a destroyed city like Mariupol. Bennett, from RAND, said he thinks it is "fairly likely" that North Korea will send troops to Ukraine, without elaborating further.
Persons: , Pat Ryder, Edward Howell, John Hardie, Evans Revere, Albright, Revere, George W, Bush, Bruce Bennett, Kim Jong Un, Bennett, Kim, Wallace Gregson, Benjamin Young, Young, Guns, Hardie, Howell Organizations: Service, South Korea's, Chosun, Korean, Business, Pentagon, Military Commission, Institute, North, Korea, Chatham, Programme, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Korean People's Army, Group, East, RAND, US Marine Corps, Pacific Security Affairs, Chatham House, Virginia Commonwealth University, Great Locations: Korea, Ukraine, Russia, North Korea, South, Chatham House's Asia, Korean, East Asia, Pacific, South Korea, Koreans, Howell, Chatham, Europe, Mariupol
An inflatable bull during a ceremony marking the first day of trading of the year at the Korea Exchange (KRX) headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets were mixed after minutes from the last U.S. Federal Reserve meeting revealed that Fed officials have grown more concerned about inflation, with members indicating they lacked confidence to move forward on interest rate reductions. In Asia, investors will assess flash business activity data from Australia and Japan, as well as Singapore's final first quarter gross domestic figures. South Korea's central bank will be announcing its policy rate decision today. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the Bank of Korea to hold its benchmark lending rate at 3.5%, although a note from ING last week said the meeting will still be closely watched, "as two new members have joined the [BOK's] board since the last meeting and it will be interesting to see if this has changed the view of the board."
Persons: SeongJoon Cho Organizations: Korea Exchange, Bloomberg, Getty Images, Federal Reserve, Reuters, Bank of, ING Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Getty Images Asia, Pacific, U.S, Asia, Australia, Japan, Korea's, Bank of Korea
North Korea censored a broadcast featuring the English gardening TV host Alan Titchmarsh. North Korea regards jeans as a symbol of Western imperialism and tries to obscure them in media. AdvertisementNorth Korea censored footage of the TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh to hide the fact that he was wearing jeans. North Korea's Central TV broadcast Titchmarsh's 2010 show "Garden Secrets" recently, but obscured his trousers. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.
Persons: Alan Titchmarsh, Organizations: Service, Korea's Central, Business Locations: Korea, England
EIU also expects the Bank of Japan will exit its negative interest rate policy in the second quarter. Markets currently expect the Fed to start with a 25-basis-point rate cut in June. Euro zoneThe European Central Bank last week also held its policy rate at a record high of 4%, signaling that it won't cut rates before June. JPMorgan said in a research note that the Turkish central bank may cut its policy rate in November and December, keeping its year-end policy rate forecast of 45%. IndonesiaIndonesia's central bank kept its benchmark policy rate at 6% in its recent meeting.
Persons: EIU, Jerome Powell, LSEG, Nomura, Perry Warjiyo, CNBC's JP Ong, BOK, Goldman Sachs, Goohoon Kwon, Kwon Organizations: Getty, Economist Intelligence Unit, Bank of Japan, United, United States U.S, Federal, Fed, European Central Bank, ECB, Swiss National Bank, UBS, Bank of Canada, Bank of, JPMorgan, Reserve Bank of, ANZ, New Zealand Auckland Savings Bank, Bank, Bank Indonesia, BMI, Fitch Solutions, U.S, Oxford Economics, Macquarie Locations: Czech, China, Japan, United States, Switzerland Swiss, Bank of Canada, Turkey, Turkish, Reserve Bank of Australia, New, Indonesia, South Korea, Asia
REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. If this week has so far been strangely listless for Asian markets, that could be about to change suddenly on Thursday as investors brace for a deluge of top-tier economic data and policy events from across the continent. The latest industrial production and retail sales data from both Japan and South Korea are on tap too, all of which could move their respective markets, especially currencies. All else equal, the risks for Asian markets on Thursday may be tilted to the upside, even though stock markets around the world again struggled on Wednesday. South Korea's central bank is expected to keep its base rate on hold at 3.50% and leave it there until at least the middle of next year.
Persons: Kim Hong, That's, Goldman Sachs, Jamie McGeever, Josie Kao Organizations: Korea, South Korean, REUTERS, New Zealand, Bank of Japan, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, India, Japan, U.S, Korea's, Korea
SEOUL, Oct 26 (Reuters) - South Korea's economy fared better than expected in the third quarter with the expansion underpinned by exports, backing the case for the central bank to keep rates on hold for the months ahead. Government spending grew 0.1%, and construction investment expanded 2.2% after contracting 0.8% in the second quarter. On an annual basis, Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 1.4% in the third quarter, after a 0.9% gain in the second quarter and beating a 1.1% rise expected by economists. South Korea's central bank held interest rates steady for a sixth straight meeting last week, retaining a tightening bias on monetary policy as it warned of inflationary risks from the Israel-Hamas conflict and global oil prices. In a separate Reuters survey conducted early this month, South Korea's economic growth was forecast to slow to 1.2% in 2023 from 2.6% in 2022.
Persons: Ed Davies, Sam Holmes Organizations: Gross, Bank of, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Bank of Korea, Korea's, Israel
An employee works on the assembly line of LED lighting products in China. Asia-Pacific markets are set for a lower start to the week as investors look ahead to key economic data from China and Japan this week. Japan's September inflation data is expected on Friday, which will come ahead of the country's central bank's monetary policy meeting on Oct. 30 and 31. South Korea's central bank will also announce its rate decision on Thursday. The Bank of Korea has held rates steady for five meetings in a row at 3.5% since February.
Organizations: Reuters, Bank of Locations: China . Asia, Pacific, China, Japan, Korea's, Bank of Korea
The logo of the Bank of Korea is seen in Seoul, South Korea, November 30, 2017. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Sept 14 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank said on Thursday it needs to make coordinated efforts to contain household debt, which is at levels that could undermine economic growth and financial stability. "Unlike in major countries, household debt increased continuously without de-leveraging and has reached a level that hinders macroeconomic and financial stability," the Bank of Korea (BOK) said in its quarterly monetary policy report. South Korea's household borrowing grew for a fifth straight month in August by the biggest amount in two years, driven up by rising mortgage demand, prompting financial authorities to tighten certain loan regulations. The BOK said in the report it was more effective for macro-prudential policy to coordinate with monetary policy than for policy responses to be made in isolation.
Persons: Kim Hong, BOK, Jihoon Lee, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Korea, prudential, Thomson Locations: Bank of Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during their meeting in Vladivostok, Russia, Thursday, April 25, 2019. Alexander Zemlianichenko | Pool | APThe leaders of North Korea and Russia are scheduled to meet this week, with deepening military, economic and geopolitical cooperation on the official agenda. There are also fears about what Moscow might offer the economically isolated and heavily sanctioned North Korea in return. A fire assault drill by North Korean rocket artillery units at an undisclosed location in North Korea in March 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). For their part, Russia and North Korea have both denied claims of alleged arms dealing.
Persons: Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Kim Yong Un, Putin, Pat Ryder, Edward Howell, Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju, Howell, scot, Dmitry Peskov, Kim, Peskov, It's, , Pyongyang's, Jung Yeon, Victor Cha, Andrius Tursa, Sergei Shoigu's, John Kirby, Wagner, Vladimir Putin grimaces Organizations: White, North, Pentagon, Ukraine, North Korean, Korean Central News Agency, Reuters, UN, North Korea —, Oxford University, CNBC, North Korea's Central News Agency, Kcna, Nuclear Weapons, UN Security Council, Kremlin, Getty, Eastern Economic, U.S, U.S . National Security, Zvezda Shipbuilding, Bolshoi Kamen Locations: Vladivostok, Russia, North Korea, Russian, Korea, Pyongyang, Ukraine, Moscow, Korean, Pakistan, Syria, Libya, North Korea's, London, Washington, Japan, South Korea, U.S, Bolshoi
South Korea July consumer inflation slowest in 25 months
  + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jihoon Lee | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
An office worker eats his lunch at a convenience store in Seoul, South Korea, June 24, 2022. REUTERS/ Heo Ran/File PhotoSEOUL, Aug 2 (Reuters) - South Korea's consumer inflation cooled for a sixth consecutive month in July and by more than expected, official data showed on Wednesday. The consumer price index stood 2.3% higher in July than a year earlier, after a 2.7% rise in June and compared with a median 2.4% increase forecast in a Reuters survey of economists. It marked the weakest annual increase since June 2021, according to Statistics Korea, and was the second straight month the consumer price data came in lower than market expectations. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, slowed to 3.3% on an annual basis from 3.5% the previous month and hit the slowest rise since April 2022.
Persons: Heo, Jihoon Lee, Ed Davies, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Statistics, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, SEOUL, Statistics Korea
S.Korea c.bank warns of financial stability risk as debts rise
  + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
SEOUL, July 17 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank said on Monday there was a need to manage financial stability in addition to price risks as the country's high household debts have started to climb. "In terms of monetary policy, it should consider financial stability more actively to prevent excessive leveraging or risky asset investments when monetary policy is loose," the Bank of Korea (BOK) said in a report. "There is a need to discuss introducing a 'prudential monetary policy' with higher consideration on financial stability, in addition to price stability," the central bank said. The central bank said in the report there was limited financial stability risk from household debt, given the low loan-to-value ratio and the high percentage of high-income earners, but it flagged negative long-term implications on growth and inequality. The BOK has kept monetary policy unchanged since its last interest rate hike in January and its tightening campaign, which began in August 2021, is widely expected to be over.
Persons: BOK, Jihoon Lee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bank of Korea, prudential, Bank for International Settlements, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Switzerland, Australia
The Bank of Korea (BOK) said its seven-member monetary policy board voted to keep the base rate (KROCRT=ECI) unchanged at 3.50%, as it did in meetings in February, April and May. "The Board will maintain a restrictive policy stance for a considerable time with an emphasis on ensuring price stability," the BOK said in a statement. The BOK has kept monetary policy unchanged since its last interest rate hike in January and its tightening campaign, which began in August 2021, is widely expected to be over. The rate stood at 2.7% in June this year, although it is still higher than the central bank's medium-term target of 2%. South Korea's import prices fell in annual terms for a fifth month in June and marked the steepest drop in more than eight years, central bank data showed earlier on Thursday.
Persons: BOK, Governor Rhee Chang, Jihoon Lee, Joyce Lee, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Bank of Korea, Reuters, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, China
Asia-Pacific markets are set to rise on Thursday after the U.S. inflation rate for June came in lower than expected at 3%, the smallest increase in two years. Month over month, the inflation rate rose 0.2%, less than forecast. In Asia, investors will be looking to China's June trade numbers, as well as the rate decision by South Korea's central bank. Economists polled by Reuters expect the central bank to hold rates at 3.5% for a sixth straight month. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index looks set for a positive open after two straight days of gains, with futures at 19,213 compared to the HSI's last close of 18,860.95.
Persons: Dow Jones Organizations: Reuters, Nikkei Locations: Asia, Pacific, Japan, Chicago, Osaka, Australia, Hong
Morning Bid: Markets bet July 2023 is 'peak Fed'
  + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike DolanSurprise news of a 2%-plus print on U.S. headline inflation rate for June has world markets betting the peak of the Federal Reserve's interest rate campaign will now be this month. Either way, the latest inflation cheer means U.S. rate futures have wiped out bets of another Fed rate hike after a final quarter-point move to 5.25-5.50% at July 26's meeting. Although they see peak rates held there to year-end, futures now price as much as a full percentage point of cuts by this time in 2024. The VIX "fear index" (.VIX) fell back below 14 to its lowest of the month so far. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.
Persons: Mike Dolan, That's, Christopher Waller, Mary Daly, Joe Biden, Christine Lagarde, Toby Chopra Organizations: Fed, Nasdaq, PepsiCo, Delta Airlines, Bank of, Swiss, Bank of Canada, Federal Reserve, San Francisco Fed, Nordic, European Central Bank, . Treasury, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Beijing, Jackson, Fastenal, Helsinki, Brussels, Japan
Francois Lochon | Gamma-rapho | Getty ImagesCentral banks in Asia could start cutting rates earlier than the Federal Reserve, economists at Nomura predicted. "Our view of Asian central banks cutting policy rates ahead of the Fed in this cycle is based on the fundamental divergences between Asian and U.S. economies," Nomura economists wrote. China's producer prices have already entered deflation territory, while South Korea's inflation hovered around 2.7%, nearing its central bank's target. Seoul could start cutsNomura expects the Bank of Korea to be one of the first central banks after China to cut rates. They pointed to the central bank's governor Rhee Chang-yong shrugging off investor concerns about a weakening South Korean currency.
Persons: Francois Lochon, Sonal Varma, Nomura, lockdowns, BOK, Rhee Chang, Rhee Organizations: Getty, Federal Reserve, Nomura, Federal, Bank of, CNBC, Korean, U.S Locations: Seoul, South, Asia, U.S, China, sputter, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Korea, Singapore, Bank of Korea
South Korea consumer inflation hits 21-month low
  + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
SEOUL, July 4 (Reuters) - South Korea's consumer inflation slowed more than expected and hit a 21-month low, official data showed on Tuesday, weighed by falling oil and agricultural product prices. It softened for a fifth consecutive month and marked the weakest annual increase since September 2021, according to Statistics Korea. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, slowed to 3.5% from 3.9% a month before, marking the slowest annual rise since May, 2022. Prices of petroleum products dropped 4.0% over a month and agricultural products fell 0.9%, but public utility prices rose 2.2%. Services prices rose 3.3% from a year earlier, weaker than 3.7% in May and the slowest in 14 months.
Persons: Jihoon Lee, Ed Davies, Sam Holmes Organizations: Statistics, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Statistics Korea, South Korea's
Bank of Korea sees rapid pace of inflation easing for awhile
  + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: 1 min
SEOUL, May 2 (Reuters) - South Korea's central bank said on Tuesday inflation would keep easing at a rapid pace through the middle of this year, although core inflation would ease at a slower pace. Reporting by Choonsik Yoo; Editing by Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
World stocks hope for Fed pause, dollar stalls
  + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +6 min
Gold climbed back up above the key $2,000 per ounce level as the dollar came off Monday's peak, while oil prices rose despite Chinese inflation data pointing to persistently weak demand. Investors are eagerly awaiting U.S. consumer prices data on Wednesday and producer prices on Thursday. The consumer price index is expected to show core inflation rose 0.4% on a monthly basis (USCPF=ECI) and 5.6% year-over-year (USCPFY=ECI) in March, according to a Reuters poll of economists. The dollar fell after a strong U.S. jobs report for March showed a resilient labor market, adding to expectations of another Fed rate hike. The dollar index fell 0.244%, with the euro up 0.41% to $1.0904 and the yen weakening 0.12% at 133.78 per dollar.
The consumer price index is expected to show core inflation rose 0.4% on a monthly basis (USCPF=ECI) and 5.6% year-over-year (USCPFY=ECI) in March. The two-year Treasury yield, which typically moves in step with interest rate expectations, rose 3.5 basis points to 4.043%. "We're just beginning to feel the pain of these much higher interest rates. The dollar fell after a strong U.S. jobs report for March showed a resilient labor market, adding to expectations of another Fed rate hike. The 10-year JGB yield fell to as low as 0.445%, its lowest since April 4, after hovering at 0.465% in the previous session.
World stocks cling to upbeat mood, dollar stalls
  + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +5 min
European stocks added 0.5% (.STOXX), U.S. equity futures pointed to a positive Wall Street open , and Japan's blue-chip Nikkei rallied over 1% (.N225). Markets price in a roughly 70% chance of a May hike, having last week priced such a move as a coin toss. Traders still price in rate cuts by year-end as the economic growth outlook weakens, exacerbated by banking turmoil. U.S. March inflation data on Wednesday could provide the next steer for markets on the rate outlook. U.S. Treasury yields edged down on Tuesday, however, , with rate sensitive two-year yields 4 bps lower at 3.96%.
World stocks hold on to upbeat mood, dollar stalls
  + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Dhara Ranasinghe | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +4 min
European stock markets opened broadly firmer (.STOXX), U.S. stock futures pointed to a positive open for Wall Street shares , and Japan's blue-chip Nikkei rallied over 1% (.N225). Friday's non-farm payrolls suggested labour markets remain resilient, boosting expectations for a 25 basis point (bps) U.S. rate increase in May. NEW BOJ CHIEFIn Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.57%, while MSCI's world stock index was up 0.3% (.MIWD00000PUS). U.S. Treasury yields edged down in European trade , with rate sensitive two-year yields last down 3 bps at 3.96%. Brent crude futures rose 61 cents, or 0.74%, to $84.81 a barrel, while U.S. WTI futures gained 68 cents, or 0.83%, to $80.41 a barrel.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.6% as trading resumed after a long holiday weekend in many major Asian markets. On Tuesday morning, South Korea's central bank held interest rates steady for a second consecutive meeting, as expected. Hong Kong stocks were tech sector gains, with the benchmark Hang Seng (.HSI) climbing 0.9%. The dollar index edged down by 0.098% to 102.36, while the Japanese yen weakened 0.15% versus the dollar to 133.4. In oil markets, U.S. crude gained 0.6% to $80.19 per barrel while Brent was at $84.65, also up 0.6%.
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