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  BOK stays pat and signals end to rate cuts amid prolonged won weakness SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) — The Bank of Korea’s decision to hold its policy rate at 2.5 percent on Thursday came with an unusual backdrop: a rare public intervention by the U.S. Treasury secretary and a detailed defense by a deputy governor, highlighting how Korean won's fragility has become central in both fiscal and monetary policy calculus. The central bank unanimously voted to keep the benchmark rate unchanged at its first rate-setting meeting of the year, extend January 15, 2026
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  Asian markets mixed; Nikkei retreats after record rally, KOSPI holds ground SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) — Asian equity markets were mixed on Wednesday, with Japanese stocks pulling back after a powerful start to the year, while Seoul shares held firm despite a more hawkish tilt from the Bank of Korea. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.77 percent to 53,923.94 as of 10:23 a.m. local time, as investors locked in profits following an uninterrupted January rally. The recent surge had been fueled by expectations of a snap election that could reinforce Prime Min January 15, 2026
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  BOK stays pat for eighth month as weak won and high debt constrain policy SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - The Bank of Korea (BOK) kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.5 percent on Thursday, extending its policy pause to an eighth consecutive month as policymakers remain constrained by a weak currency, elevated household debt and divergent inflation pressures. At its first rate-setting meeting of 2026, the central bank decided to hold the base rate steady, unchanged since a 25-basis-point cut in May last year. The decision reflects what officials ha January 15, 2026
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  KRX eyes AI-driven overhaul to support 24-hour trading, reviews startup acquisition SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) -The Korea Exchange (KRX) said Tuesday it is pursuing an artificial intelligence–based innovation strategy as groundwork for a future 24-hour trading system, including a possible acquisition of an AI startup. The exchange said it plans to integrate AI into market oversight and operations, calling the technology a core strategy that will determine the competitiveness of South Korea’s capital markets. AI is expected to be applied across market January 15, 2026
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  Washington makes a rare Korean won-supporting remark SEOUL, January 15 (AJP) - In a rare departure from Washington’s long-held opposition to currency intervention, the U.S. Treasury secretary echoed Seoul’s concerns over the weak Korean won, lending verbal support to efforts to stabilize the currency. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with South Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol on Monday (local time) to discuss market developments and preparations for the upcoming critical mi January 15, 2026
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  Hanwha restructuring lifts Korean stocks as Asian shares end mixed SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Asian equities ended mixed on Wednesday, with South Korea's benchmark index closing at a record high, while markets elsewhere in the region showed divergent performances. South Korea’s KOSPI rose 0.65 percent to close at 4,723.10. The tech-heavy KOSDAQ fell 0.72 percent to 942.18, as investors rotated selectively between sectors. Market attention centered on Hanwha Group after it unveiled plans to split its businesses, separating defense, ene January 14, 2026
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  Korea's M2 growth moderates as investors favor short-term returns SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - South Korea’s broad money growth stalled in November under a revised definition of M2, reflecting both a statistical adjustment and a deeper shift in investor behavior toward short-term, high-return assets. According to data released Wednesday by the Bank of Korea (BOK), the M2 money supply stood at 4,057.5 trillion won ($2.77 trillion) in November 2025, little changed from the previous month and marking a second consecutive month of flat growth. Th January 14, 2026
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  Overseas investing reshaping Korea's FX market: BOK SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - A sharp rise in overseas securities investment by South Koreans led to nearly $20 billion in net foreign-exchange outflows last year, the Bank of Korea said in a report Wednesday, underscoring why the won weakened despite large current-account surpluses. Net foreign-currency outflows linked to residents’ overseas securities purchases and overseas investment by pension funds totaled $19.6 billion from January through October last year. The f January 14, 2026
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  Foreign investors extend buying streak in South Korean stocks, bonds SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Foreign investors were net buyers of South Korean stocks and bonds in December, extending net inflows to a fourth consecutive month. Net foreign inflows into South Korean securities totaled $7.44 billion in December, according to the Bank of Korea’s report on international finance and foreign-exchange market trends released Wednesday. The figure marked the largest monthly inflow since September, when inflows reached $9.12 billion. Bond pu January 14, 2026
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  Asian markets mixed as KOSPI slips after earlier gain on semiconductor strength SEOUL, January 14 (AJP) - Asian markets opened mixed on Wednesday, as South Korean shares rose on early semiconductor and energy gains but slipped amid broader caution across the region. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI was down 0.4 percent at 4,673 and the tech-heavy KOSDAQ also fell 0.8 percent to 941.4 as of around 11 a.m., as initial gains shortly after trading began earlier in the day gave way to selective profit-taking. Semiconductor shares traded mixed, with Samsung Electro January 14, 2026