HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Moves to Sell Gunsan Shipyard to Ecoprime Marine Pacific Ecoprime Marine Pacific, which has HJ Shipbuilding & Construction as a subsidiary, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have signed a memorandum of agreement for the transfer of assets at the Gunsan shipyard. Industry officials said on the 13th that the two companies signed the agreement at Ecoprime Marine Pacific’s headquarters in Yongsan. The assets to be transferred include all tangible assets related to the Gunsan shipyard, including real estate and movable property. The contract amount will be finalized after due diligence, based on a basic asset value set through an appraisal and then confirmed through negotiations between the parties. A final contract is expected to be signed after the due diligence process. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries built the Gunsan shipyard in 2010 on a 1.8 million-square-meter site in the Gunsan National Industrial Complex in North Jeolla Province. Operations were suspended in 2017 as orders fell amid a downturn in the shipbuilding industry. Since 2022, the yard has been partially restarted and has produced ship blocks. The shipyard spans 1.8 million square meters and is equipped with a 1.3 million-metric-ton dock, a 1,650-metric-ton Goliath crane and other facilities. With an annual assembly capacity of 250,000 metric tons, it can build 12 bulk carriers of 180,000 tons each, the company said. Ecoprime Marine Pacific said HD Hyundai Heavy Industries agreed to place orders for its block production at the Gunsan shipyard (tentative name) for the next three years to help revitalize the facility. It also said HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will provide design services, handle raw-material purchasing on its behalf, and support automation and smart-shipyard technologies. An HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official said the asset transfer is expected to make new shipbuilding possible at the Gunsan shipyard. The official added that HD Hyundai Heavy Industries will continue to receive ship blocks at the same level as it does now even after the transfer, calling it a win-win for HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ecoprime Marine Pacific and the city of Gunsan.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 15:19:10

Hanwha Aerospace Completes Phase 2 Expansion of Australia Plant, Begins Redback IFV Production Hanwha Aerospace said on the 13th it has completed a Phase 2 expansion of its plant in Australia. The company secured production facilities about two years after signing a contract with the Australian government in December 2023 to supply 129 Redback infantry fighting vehicles. The Phase 2 buildout includes a second production building, what it described as the Southern Hemisphere’s largest electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) test chamber, a large washing facility and a finished-goods storage building. Key facilities, including the second production building, were completed about a month and a half ahead of schedule. Since opening its Phase 1 facilities in 2024, the plant has produced the AS9 self-propelled howitzer and the AS10 ammunition resupply vehicle. The Phase 2 expansion added about 32,000 square meters (about 344,000 square feet) of space, establishing a system that allows simultaneous production of howitzers and armored vehicles. Hanwha said the site can now accommodate more than 250 office and production workers. It has two production buildings, a 1.2-kilometer (0.75-mile) driving test track with slope and deep-water test facilities, a system integration lab and painting facilities. Cumulative investment totals about 225 million Australian dollars (about 236.7 billion won), it said. The plant is expected to serve as a strategic production and maintenance, repair and overhaul hub for Australia and South Korea, as well as the Indo-Pacific region. The facility, known as H-AC, is in Geelong and was completed in August 2024 as the first overseas production base built by a South Korean defense company, Hanwha said. The site covers about 150,000 square meters and consists of 11 facilities, including a main building, production buildings, an assembly area, a driving test track and a firing range. A Hanwha Aerospace official said, “Through the Australia plant, we will contribute to the local defense ecosystem and develop it into a key production hub for land defense in the Indo-Pacific region.” * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 15:18:19

Washington slaps another Section 301 probe on South Korea SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) -South Korea has been drawn into another U.S. trade investigation as Washington launched a new probe under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 targeting forced-labor imports, only a day after opening a sweeping investigation into global manufacturing overcapacity. The back-to-back actions suggest the United States is assembling multiple Section 301 cases in an effort to rebuild the legal basis for tariffs after the U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down a key foundation used to justify earlier duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) said Wednesday it had initiated investigations into 60 economies, including South Korea, China, the European Union, Japan, India, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. The probe will examine whether governments have failed to impose or effectively enforce bans on the importation of goods produced with forced labor — a gap Washington argues allows products made under coercive labor conditions to circulate through global supply chains and gain an artificial cost advantage. “Despite the international consensus against forced labor, governments have failed to impose and effectively enforce measures banning goods produced with forced labor from entering their markets,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. “For too long, American workers and firms have been forced to compete against foreign producers who may have an artificial cost advantage gained from the scourge of forced labor.” The latest investigation shifts attention away from domestic labor practices within the targeted economies and instead focuses on whether governments are adequately preventing forced-labor goods from entering their own markets. U.S. officials argue that if countries allow such products to be imported and re-exported through their supply chains, they effectively undermine international efforts to eliminate forced labor and distort global trade. The investigation will examine government policies, customs enforcement practices and regulatory frameworks governing import bans on forced-labor goods. The move builds on a broader trend in U.S. trade policy that increasingly links supply-chain transparency, labor standards and national economic security. In recent years Washington has tightened restrictions on imports tied to forced labor, most notably through the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which blocks products linked to alleged forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region unless companies can prove otherwise. Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorizes the U.S. government to investigate foreign government practices deemed “unreasonable or discriminatory” and to impose retaliatory trade measures, including tariffs. Trade analysts say the forced-labor probe — coming only a day after a separate Section 301 investigation into structural excess capacity in global manufacturing — indicates Washington is increasingly relying on the statute to underpin its tariff policy. The strategy follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that invalidated tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, forcing the administration to explore alternative legal authorities to sustain its trade enforcement agenda. By launching multiple Section 301 investigations addressing different types of trade distortions, Washington could potentially establish new legal grounds for tariffs if the probes conclude that foreign practices are harming U.S. commerce. Under the Section 301 procedure, USTR must seek consultations with the governments under investigation before determining whether trade actions are warranted. The agency has scheduled a public hearing for April 28, while written comments and requests to testify must be submitted by April 15, according to a Federal Register notice. After reviewing submissions and consultations, the interagency Section 301 Committee will assess whether the targeted policies burden or restrict U.S. commerce and recommend potential remedies. Those remedies could include tariffs, import restrictions or negotiated commitments by the affected economies to tighten enforcement against forced-labor goods. Seoul was included a day earlier in the separate Section 301 probe examining global industrial overcapacity in manufacturing — a case widely seen as targeting government subsidies and production surpluses in major export economies. While the forced-labor probe does not specifically accuse South Korea of using forced labor, the investigation could examine whether Korean customs authorities adequately prevent imports of goods linked to forced labor from entering domestic supply chains. 2026-03-13 15:03:07

BTS Comeback D-8: Gwanghwamun's oldest residents - a Joseon king and admiral SEOUL, March 12 (AJP) - At the heart of Seoul stands Gwanghwamun Square, often called the symbolic center of South Korea. The broad boulevard stretching from the ancient gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace has witnessed centuries of history — from the royal administration of the Joseon Dynasty to modern civic gatherings. Next Saturday, the historic square will host another moment in that long timeline: a comeback performance by global K-pop group BTS. In this space where history and modern culture intersect, two towering figures already stand watch — Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the naval commander who defended Joseon during the 16th century, and King Sejong, the monarch who created the Korean alphabet. Their statues face south along the grand avenue, anchoring a square where the legends of the past and icons of the present converge. Standing at the center of Gwanghwamun Square is the imposing statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, one of Korea’s most revered military heroes. The 17-meter monument was erected in 1968 and remains one of Seoul’s most recognizable landmarks. The bronze statue itself rises 6.5 meters above a 10.5-meter pedestal, depicting the admiral in armor overlooking the capital he once helped defend. Around the statue are symbolic reminders of his naval victories — a model of the famed turtle ship, one of the world’s earliest iron-clad warships, and two large drums representing signals used during naval battles. Rather than focusing on a precise likeness, the monument emphasizes Yi’s role as a national symbol — the steadfast commander who protected the nation during the Japanese invasions of the 1590s. About 250 meters north of Yi’s monument sits another defining symbol of Korean history: the statue of King Sejong the Great, the fourth ruler of the Joseon Dynasty. The seated statue measures 6.2 meters in height and 4.3 meters in width. Unlike the commanding posture of the admiral, Sejong appears calm and contemplative. One hand holds a book while the other gestures gently forward, reflecting his reputation as a ruler devoted to the welfare of his people. Models of King Sejong’s inventions — the honcheonsi, cheugugi and angbuilgu — are displayed at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. AJP Han Jun-gu Displayed before the statue are scientific instruments from the 15th century that flourished under Sejong’s reign — the honcheonsui armillary sphere, the cheugugi rain gauge, and the angbuilgu sundial. Along the flowing water channel surrounding the plaza, a timeline carved in stone traces the history of the Joseon Dynasty. The stories of the two figures continue beneath the plaza. Underground exhibition halls known as “Story of Sejong” and “Story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin” allow visitors to explore the lives and achievements of the two historical icons. The Sejong exhibition introduces the king’s philosophy of governance, his scientific innovations and his most enduring legacy — the creation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. Displays include replicas of astronomical charts, traditional musical instruments used in the royal court and interactive exhibits explaining Sejong’s technological achievements. The Yi Sun-sin gallery focuses on the admiral’s leadership during the Imjin War. Artifacts and multimedia displays recreate the naval battles of the seven-year conflict, including models of Joseon warships and immersive visual installations illustrating the admiral’s strategies. Above ground, Gwanghwamun Square remains a living civic space where history continues to unfold. The statues of Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong overlook the plaza while their stories live on below — a reminder of the country’s past layered into the fabric of modern Seoul. Soon another chapter will be added.On March 21, the square will transform into a stage for BTS, the global music phenomenon whose influence now carries Korean culture across the world. In one place stand the legendary king who gave Korea its alphabet, the admiral who defended the nation’s shores, and a modern group whose music has carried Korean culture to global audiences. At Gwanghwamun, centuries of Korean history — and the future of its culture — meet on the same stage. 2026-03-13 14:33:20

Korea's crackers edges toward shutdown as Hormuz blockade chokes naphtha supply SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) - South Korea's petrochemical plants are rapidly running out of naphtha as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz cuts off a major supply route, forcing producers to declare force majeure and slash operating rates to bare-minimum levels to avoid a full shutdown that could ripple through the country's manufacturing economy. Yeocheon NCC, LG Chem, Lotte Chemical and Hanwha Solutions have all warned customers of potential force majeure on product deliveries. GS Caltex, which shares the Yeosu industrial complex with several affected petrochemical producers, has postponed a scheduled maintenance turnaround at its Yeosu refinery from March to May in order to keep supplying naphtha to neighboring plants, industry officials said. The move underscores the urgency gripping the sector: halting refining operations now would almost certainly trigger a cascade of shutdowns downstream. About 54 percent of South Korea's naphtha imports and roughly 70 percent of its crude oil normally transit the Strait of Hormuz. Since Iran closed the waterway on Feb. 28 following joint U.S.–Israeli strikes, tanker traffic through the chokepoint has largely halted. "NCC operating rates across the region continue to decline as the Strait of Hormuz remains impassable, while prices of basic feedstocks such as butadiene and styrene monomer are surging on tighter supply and rising naphtha costs," said Kang Dong-jin, an analyst at Hyundai Motor Securities. "A recovery in NCC utilization hinges on the reopening of the strait." Naphtha prices have surged since the conflict escalated, hitting $883.40 per metric ton on Monday, up from $568.55 on Feb. 23, before easing slightly to $812.29 on Thursday, according to the S&P Global Platts Fujairah cargo assessment. Asia's steam cracker industry is overwhelmingly naphtha-based and structurally dependent on imports. Major petrochemical producers across the region — including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore and South Korea — collectively imported 86.6 million tons of naphtha in 2025, according to Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS). As the supply shock spreads, petrochemical plants across Asia have begun cutting operating rates. Singapore's Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore has declared force majeure, citing disrupted naphtha deliveries, while Indonesia's PT Chandra Asri Pacific has followed with its own declaration. Korea's Yeocheon NCC has taken the same step. In China, the CNOOC and Shell Petrochemicals Company Limited has halted operations after crude supply to its integrated refinery was disrupted. Nearly 9 million tons per year of South Korean ethylene capacity is non-integrated and heavily reliant on imported naphtha, according to ICIS data. The price spike compounds an already dire situation for Korean producers, who are struggling to pass higher feedstock costs on to customers. Persistent oversupply from China has depressed ethylene and downstream product prices, compressing the ethylene spread — the margin between naphtha costs and ethylene selling prices — to about $100 per ton, far below the roughly $300 needed to break even. Korean petrochemical firms typically source about half of their naphtha from domestic refiners and import the rest. With the strait sealed off, those seaborne cargoes have stopped arriving and inventories are rapidly dwindling, leaving producers little choice but to conserve feedstock. Operating rates have been cut to what the industry calls "zombie mode." Yeocheon NCC, a 50-50 venture between Hanwha Solutions and DL Chemical, has reduced utilization to 60 percent and is reportedly considering a further cut to 50 percent, its turndown limit. Lotte Chemical has lowered utilization to 70 percent, while LG Chem has trimmed operations at its Daesan complex to about 54 percent. Once a plant falls below its turndown ratio — the minimum operating rate at which equipment can safely function — it must shut down entirely. Restarting a steam cracker typically takes up to two weeks. Domestic producers currently hold only about two weeks of naphtha inventories, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. A full shutdown would send shockwaves far beyond the chemical sector. Ethylene and propylene are core feedstocks for a wide range of industries, from automotive plastics and consumer electronics components to construction materials such as PVC piping and insulation, as well as synthetic fibers used in textiles. Logistics networks are already beginning to buckle. HMM, South Korea's largest shipping line, suspended new bookings on Middle East routes on Wednesday, while Korean Air has extended the suspension of its Incheon–Dubai flights through March 28. Rising freight and fuel costs are adding pressure to industries already weakened by a prolonged downturn, including steel, batteries and cement. The crisis has also complicated a government-led restructuring effort aimed at addressing structural overcapacity in the petrochemical sector. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and creditor institutions led by the Korea Development Bank had set an end-of-March deadline for companies in the Yeosu complex to submit voluntary ethylene capacity reduction plans. The war, however, has injected deep uncertainty into those negotiations. Analysts say the situation echoes the early stages of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, though the impact on Asia could prove more severe given the region's far heavier reliance on Middle Eastern feedstock. If the Hormuz blockade drags on, utilization rates at South Korea's three major petrochemical hubs — Yeosu, Daesan and Ulsan — could fall below 60 percent across the board, with ripple effects spreading through electronics, automotive, construction and consumer goods industries nationwide. 2026-03-13 14:30:45

Korea's M2 rise picks up in Jan as stock invest and dollar savings pile up SEOUL, Mar 13 (AJP) —South Korea’s M2 money supply grew at a faster pace in January than previous months on strong stock market and U.S.-dollar-denominated savings on expectations of continued greenback strength. According to a Bank of Korea (BOK) release on Friday, the M2 money supply grew 0.7 percent month-on-month in January to reach 4,108.9 trillion won ($2.83 trillion). Under the previous M2 standard (used prior to November statistics), the figure rose 1.2 percent to 4,521.1 trillion won, indicating an even sharper upward trend. The M2 money supply grew by 4.5 percent throughout 2025 (under the new standard) and 7.4 percent (under the previous standard), a marked acceleration from the 3.3 percent and 5.6 percent growth rates recorded in 2024. Compared to January of last year, M2 increased by 4.6 percent (new) and 8.4 percent (previous). While the growth rate under the new standard—which excludes ETFs and long-term deposits—narrowed by 0.1 percentage points, the previous standard showed an expansion of 0.4 percentage points. The expansion was largely fueled by a stellar performance in the South Korean stock market in January. The benchmark KOSPI surged more than 21 percent in a single month, rising from 4,309.63 on Jan. 2 to close at 5,224.36 on Jan. 30. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ followed suit, jumping over 20 percent to finish the month at 1,149.21. KOSPI was trading down 1.3 percent at 5,510 Friday. After hitting an all-time high of 6,307.27 on Feb. 26, the index suffered a 20 percent plunge in early March, triggered by the Middle East crisis and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Liquidity in other financial institutions, including asset management firms, increased by 15.2 trillion won, reflecting the January market boom. Demand deposits, which typically serve as a cash pool for equity investment, grew by 15.5 trillion won, more than doubling the 7 trillion won increase seen the previous month. The period was also marked by a significant buildup in foreign currency liquidity. Other monetary products, primarily foreign currency deposits with maturities of less than two years, surged by 21 trillion won—double the 10 trillion won increase in the prior month. The won, which stood at 1,445 per dollar on Jan. 2, weakened to 1,453 by Jan. 30, a depreciation of approximately 0.6 percent. Amid the ongoing Hormuz crisis, the currency has since plummeted to the 1,490 level as of 11:15 a.m. Friday. Bond prices also retreated. The yield on the 10-year government bond rose from 3.386 percent on Jan. 2 to close at 3.607 percent on Jan. 30, an increase of 22.1 basis points. While yields briefly dipped in February on safe-haven demand, the Hormuz shock pushed them back up, with the 10-year yield closing at 3.649 percent on Thursday, up 4.1 basis points. 2026-03-13 14:26:52

North Korea-China passenger train resumes service ahead of Trump's visit to Beijing SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) - A passenger train linking North Korea and China arrived in Beijing on Friday, resuming service for the first time in six years shortly after Pyongyang closed its border due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The train, which departed Pyongyang at around 10:30 a.m. the previous day, arrived at a railway station in Beijing the next morning after its lengthy journey of about 25 hours. Another passenger train from Beijing to Pyongyang also departed at around 5:30 p.m. the same day. According to state-run China Railway, passenger trains linking the two countries' capitals operate four times a week in both directions, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Another passenger train service linking Pyongyang and the Chinese border city of Dandong also operates twice daily. With the resumption of these railway services, Pyongyang is expected to increase exchanges to restore relations with its traditional ally, which had been strained amid its deepening military ties with Russia. Despite the North's full reopening of its borders in 2023, passenger railway services remained suspended, although cargo trains connecting the two countries' border towns of Dandong and Sinuiju were partially resumed in 2022. The resumption follows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's attendance at a military parade in Beijing last September and comes just weeks ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to the city later this month. 2026-03-13 14:26:09

Samsung Biologics Labor Talks Break Down; Union to Seek Mediation Samsung Biologics and its union failed to narrow differences in this year’s wage and collective bargaining talks. Industry officials said the Samsung Biologics Mutual Growth Labor Union announced Friday that negotiations with management had ended in a final breakdown. The two sides held 13 bargaining sessions from an initial meeting on Dec. 23 through Friday but did not reach agreement. The union said it has applied to the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission for mediation of the labor dispute. If mediation fails, the union is expected to move toward collective action, though no specific schedule has been set, officials said. The union also said it plans to submit complaints and criminal filings to the Labor Ministry next week over alleged violations of the collective agreement, violations of the Labor Standards Act and unpaid wages. A leak last year of personnel-related documents was raised as a key issue in the talks. The union is seeking action against those responsible and revisions to the collective agreement related to personal data protection. Wages and benefits were also cited as major points of contention.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-03-13 13:52:36

French president to visit Seoul for summit next month SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) - French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Seoul next month, Cheong Wa Dae said on Friday. In a written press briefing, presidential spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung said Macron will arrive in Seoul on April 2 for a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. The visit will mark his first trip to South Korea since his inauguration in 2017 as the youngest president in French history and also the first by a French president in about 11 years. After a formal welcoming ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae, the two leaders are scheduled to hold a summit the next day, followed by a state luncheon and other events. Their talks are expected to cover a broad range of areas including cooperation in trade and investment, as well as in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, space, and nuclear energy. Global issues including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that began with U.S.-led airstrikes on Iran, are also expected to be on the agenda. As South Korea's third-largest trading partner in Europe, France also draws more than 800,000 South Korean tourists each year. Kang said Macron's visit, which coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, would serve as an "important milestone" in building bilateral trust, and expressed hope that it would strengthen joint efforts toward sustainable global growth. Meanwhile, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will also make a state visit to South Korea later this month. Subianto is scheduled to arrive in Seoul on March 31 and hold a summit with Lee the following day. It will be their second meeting since last November, when the two met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. 2026-03-13 11:21:43

Asian stocks fall as oil tops $100 on Hormuz tensions SEOUL, March 13 (AJP) — Asian stock markets opened lower Friday after oil prices surged above $100 a barrel amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns about prolonged disruptions to global energy supplies. Investor anxiety intensified after Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vowed to maintain pressure on shipping through the strategic waterway and warned Tehran could open another front in the conflict, stoking fears that the war could drag on and threaten one of the world’s most critical energy routes. The comments sent oil prices sharply higher. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 9.72 percent to $95.73 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent crude settled at $101.26, its highest close since July 2022. U.S. equities fell sharply overnight as energy-driven inflation fears rattled markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.56 percent to its lowest level of the year, while the S&P 500 fell 1.52 percent and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.68 percent. Technology shares led the selloff. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index plunged 3.43 percent as investors priced in potential supply-chain risks linked to Gulf tensions. Major chipmakers also retreated, with Nvidia down 1.53 percent, while Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. fell more than 5 percent and Micron Technology slid over 3 percent. The weakness spilled into Asian trading, including Seoul, where semiconductor heavyweights led early losses. Samsung Electronics fell 2.55 percent to 183,100 won and SK hynix declined 2.58 percent to 906,000 won. Most South Korean shares opened lower as the oil shock rattled investor sentiment. The benchmark KOSPI initially dropped about 3 percent before trimming losses. As of 10:56 a.m., the index was down 1.24 percent at 5,513.87, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ recovered from early losses to rise 0.62 percent to 1,155.51. Foreign and institutional investors were net sellers, offloading 644.4 billion won ($483 million) and 331.3 billion won worth of shares respectively, while retail investors bought a net 971.1 billion won. Among major stocks, LG Energy Solution slid 4.17 percent to 368,000 won, Hyundai Motor declined 1.73 percent to 512,000 won and Kia lost 2.93 percent to 162,100 won. Samsung Biologics fell 1.85 percent to 1,595,000 won, SK Square dropped 3.79 percent to 533,000 won and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries slipped 1.99 percent to 592,000 won. Naver edged up 0.45 percent to 223,000 won. Doosan Enerbility was the lone major gainer, rising 2.13 percent to 105,700 won. The Korean won weakened toward crisis-era levels, trading at 1,489.40 per dollar. The Bank of Korea warned that prolonged tensions in the Middle East could push up inflation and said it would maintain a cautious, neutral policy stance for now. While some investors speculate the central bank may eventually tighten policy to contain inflationary pressure, others say heightened geopolitical uncertainty makes a near-term rate hike unlikely. Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.81 percent to 54,010.97. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.48 percent to 25,592.49, while China’s Shanghai Composite Index declined 0.33 percent to 4,115.48. Taiwan’s TAIEX also dropped 0.58 percent to 33,386.04. 2026-03-13 11:15:05