• 
  GULF CRISIS: Price pressures and weak won deepen Korea's policy bind SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - South Korea’s central bank is facing a growing dilemma as potential war-driven price shocks can collide with a weakening currency, tightening the room for monetary policy maneuver. Like the Federal Reserve, the Bank of Korea is widely expected to hold rates steady next month. But how long it can stay on hold will depend on the duration of the Middle East conflict and the scale of its economic fallout — from renewed inflation to rising financial March 19, 2026
• 
  Retailers to slash grocery prices to ease burden on households SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - Major retailers will cut prices by more than 10 percent next month to ease the burden on households. After a meeting in Seoul on Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said retail prices for roughly two dozen items including confectionery, bakery products, and ice cream will be reduced by 100 to 400 won (US$0.07 to $0.27) or up to 13.4 percent starting from next month. Cooking oil and instant noodle makers will also lower price March 19, 2026
• 
  Asian stocks turn lower on Fed inflation warning, oil surge SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) — Asian stock markets opened lower on Thursday as a renewed surge in oil prices driven by escalating Middle East tensions and a more hawkish Federal Reserve outlook weighed on investor sentiment. Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field on Wednesday, marking its first attack on the country’s energy infrastructure in retaliation for the killing of senior intelligence and military officials. The escalation sent Brent crude up 6.1 percent t March 19, 2026
• 
  BOK hints at intervention as USD/KRW hits above 1,500 after Fed hold SEOUL, March 19 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK) vowed to take "stabilization actions" upon signs of volatility in domestic financial markets in renewed interventionist rhetoric Thursday after the local currency's spiral past its de facto defense line of 1,500 versus the U.S. dollar. "Uncertainties in the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary policy path have escalated," said BOK senior deputy governor Ryoo Sang-dai during an emergency Task Force (TF) meeting March 19, 2026
• 
  Chip rally drives KOSPI higher as Samsung, SK hynix top 40% of market cap SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - South Korean stocks roared higher on Wednesday, powered by chip heavyweights, as easing oil prices and renewed momentum in AI-linked semiconductors lifted investor sentiment. The benchmark KOSPI jumped 5.04 percent to close at 5,925.03, reclaiming the 5,900 level after opening at 5,767.10 and extending gains throughout the session. A buy-side sidecar was triggered in afternoon trading as futures rose more than 5 percent, underscoring the strength of the March 18, 2026
• 
  Asian markets edge up as Strait of Hormuz fears ease SEOUL, March 18 (AJP) - Asian stock markets opened higher Wednesday as concerns over supply chain disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz eased slightly amid the prolonged Middle East conflict. South Korea's benchmark KOSPI extended its gains from the previous session as improving sentiment toward chipmakers outweighed concerns over volatile oil prices. Market sentiment remained fragile overnight amid rising crude oil prices and the ongoing U.S. Federal Open Market Commi March 18, 2026
• 
  KOSPI outperforms on Nvidia-driven momentum despite oil jitters SEOUL, March (AJP) — South Korean equities outperformed regional peers on the back of AI-driven buying, brushing aside rising oil prices that weighed on broader Asian markets. Seoul’s main bourse drew strength from its exposure to Nvidia’s supply chain, as momentum from the U.S. chipmaker’s GTC 2026 conference continued to support investor positioning in artificial intelligence-related stocks. Brent crude rose 3 percent to $103.23 a barrel, while West Texa March 17, 2026
• 
  Asian markets broadly higher, KOSPI led by Nvidia partners SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) — Asian stock markets traded higher Tuesday as easing oil prices and renewed optimism over AI-driven semiconductor demand boosted investor sentiment across the region. All members of the “Magnificent Seven” closed higher overnight. Nvidia rose 1.65 percent, Tesla gained 1.11 percent, Amazon advanced 1.96 percent, Meta Platforms climbed 2.33 percent, Alphabet added 1.09 percent, Microsoft rose 1.11 percent and Apple edged up 1.08 percent. March 17, 2026
• 
  Shinsegae signs deal with US AI startup to build huge data center in South Korea SEOUL, March 17 (AJP) - Shinsegae said Tuesday it has agreed to build a mega data center for artificial intelligence (AI) in South Korea in partnership with a U.S. AI company. The retail giant's chairman Chung Yong-jin met Reflection AI CEO Misha Laskin in San Francisco last Sunday and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to form a strategic partnership to build the 250-megawatt data center. The AI startup's co-founder Laskin, along with Ioannis Antonoglou - a March 17, 2026
• 
  Asian stocks diverge, KOSPI ends positive despite jittery won SEOUL, March 16 (AJP) -Asian stock markets diverged Monday as oil prices climbed above $100 in response to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. With investors weighing energy risks and global demand signals, Japan and China edged lower, while Korea bucked the regional trend on strong semiconductor gains. Brent crude rose 1.6 percent to $104.83 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate crude gained 0.6 percent to $99.30, keeping energy security concerns at the center of regional tra March 16, 2026