South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
New York Fed President John Williams Signals Rate Hold as Economy Seen Strong in 2026 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
BOJ Policymakers Warn Weak Yen Could Fuel Inflation Risks and Delay Rate Action 
Markets React as Tensions Rise Between White House and Federal Reserve Over Interest Rate Pressure 
ECB’s Cipollone Backs Digital Euro as Europe Pushes for Payment System Independence 
Japan Election Poll Signals Landslide Win for Sanae Takaichi, Raising Fiscal Policy Concerns 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Fed Confirms Rate Meeting Schedule Despite Severe Winter Storm in Washington D.C. 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Gold and Asian Stocks Rebound as Market Volatility Eases and Global Sentiment Improves 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
The Bank of Korea (BoK) is expected to maintain its policy rate at 1.50 percent at its monetary policy meeting on Thursday as the nation’s CPI inflation will likely ease further particularly in the period of August to October. In addition, the US-China trade war could cast a shadow on future global demand, which would be a drag on the export-driven economy’s growth, according to the latest research report from Scotiabank.
Off late, the Office of the USTR said in a statement that "As a result of China’s retaliation and failure to change its practices, the President has ordered USTR to begin the process of imposing tariffs of 10 percent on an additional USD200 billion of Chinese imports."
Although the USTR also said that the United States is willing to negotiate with China, the release of the list will dampen risk sentiment and undermine EM Asian currencies. It is supportive of our short CNH/JPY cross position.
"We expect USD/KRW to range trade between 1,100 and 1,140 with upward risks in the near future, while maintaining our long EUR/KRW cross position targeting 1,360," the report added.
