Market
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Asian markets respond lukewarmly to Fed's widely expected rate cut
SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) - Asian markets reacted lukewarmly to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s widely expected rate cut on Thursday, underscoring lingering uncertainty over the future path of U.S. interest rates. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI gained 0.7 percent to 4,162.51 and the KOSDAQ advanced 0.3 percent to 937.79 as of 9:40 a.m. As expected, the Federal Open Market Committee lowered the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.50–3.75 percent ov
December 11, 2025
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Seoul raises market watch after Fed rate cut
SEOUL, December 11 (AJP) -South Korea’s deputy chiefs of fiscal, monetary and financial policy convened an emergency macro-financial meeting Thursday, after the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) delivered its third consecutive interest rate cut and signaled only limited easing ahead. The meeting — held via conference call — brought together Lee Hyoung-il, vice minister of economy and finance; Yoo Sang-dae, deputy governor of the Bank of Korea; Kwon D
December 11, 2025
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Asian markets hardly move ahead of Fed decision
SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Asian markets barely budged Wednesday as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy decision. In Seoul, the KOSPI slipped 0.2 percent to 4,135.00, extending its decline for a second session this week, while the KOSDAQ gained 0.4 percent to 935.00. Institutional investors unloaded 344.3 billion won ($234 million), offset by 296.4 billion won in foreign buying and 18.6 billion won from retail investors. Samsung Elec
December 10, 2025
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Asian markets continue to hold breadth until Fed chair speaks
SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - Asian markets moved cautiously on Wednesday as investors held their breadth ahead of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee decision, due at 6 a.m. Thursday Korean Standard Time, leaving the region in a subdued holding pattern for clues on next year’s rate path. The Korean won was steady at 1,469 per dollar as of 10:50 a.m., with traders perplexed by speculation that the National Pension Service may issue foreign currency–denominated bonds as
December 10, 2025
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Seoul heralds record government debt pipeline for 2026
SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea plans to issue a record volume of treasury bonds next year, raising oversupply concerns on the tepid debt market. According to 2026 pipeline, the Ministry of Economy and Finance intends to issue 225.7 trillion won in treasury bonds. Although the figure is 5.4 trillion won lower than this year’s issuance, the net increase in outstanding debt will reach 109.4 trillion won—25.7 trillion won more than the previous year and potentia
December 10, 2025
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SK hynix mulls ADR listing in US
SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - South Korea's memory giant SK hynix is deliberating to list its treasury shares on a U.S. stock market in the form of American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) to further bolster its corporate value. In a disclosure responding to the Korea Exchange's request on ADR rumors, the company said Wednesday it would report further details within a month. Shares in Seoul opened 4 percent higher at 588,500 won ($400) upon the disclosure posted before the m
December 10, 2025
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Asian stocks mostly flat ahead of FOMC as caution builds
SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Asian stocks were largely unchanged on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. In Seoul, the benchmark KOSPI slipped 0.3 percent to 4,143.55, while the KOSDAQ added 0.4 percent to 931.35. Market sentiment was subdued as traders awaited the outcome of the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting beginning Tuesday U.S. time, where policymakers will decide the December rate move. The
December 9, 2025
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Record M2 fuels weak won structure, binds policy for Seoul authorities
SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korea's broad money supply has ballooned to levels last seen during the pandemic stimulus peak, and the liquidity glut is weighing heavily on the won while narrowing policy maneuvering room for authorities. M2 money supply, which includes bonds, time and savings deposits, and equity-type deposits, grew 8.5 percent to a record 4,430.5 trillion won ($3.01 trillion) as of September, Bank of Korea (BOK) data showed. The growth far o
December 9, 2025
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Asian markets remain reserved in FOMC week
SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - Asian equity markets remained cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting this week, with investors bracing for any signal that may accompany the widely expected interest-rate cut. Despite Seoul’s show of resolve — underscored most recently by a rare meeting between the prime minister and the Bank of Korea governor — the dollar ended its brief decline and turned upward, gaining 1.4 won to 1
December 9, 2025
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South Korean PM meets BOK chief amid KRW concerns
SEOUL, December 09 (AJP) - South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong held an unusual closed-door meeting early Tuesday, signaling the government’s reinforced determination to arrest the prolonged weakness of the Korean won that is rippling through every corner of Asia’s fourth-largest economy — from inflation and purchasing power to investment sentiment and long-term growth potential. The meeting, held at the government
December 9, 2025