Europe Confronts Rising Competitive Pressure as China Accelerates Export-Led Growth 
Asian Currencies Steady as Markets Await Fed Rate Decision; Indian Rupee Hits New Record Low 
Germany’s Economic Recovery Slows as Trade Tensions and Rising Costs Weigh on Growth 
Gold Prices Steady as Markets Await Key U.S. Data and Expected Fed Rate Cut 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
BOJ’s Noguchi Calls for Cautious, Gradual Interest Rate Hikes to Sustain Inflation Goals 
New RBNZ Governor Anna Breman Aims to Restore Stability After Tumultuous Years 
BOK Expected to Hold Rates at 2.50% as Housing and Currency Pressures Persist 
The Bank of Korea (BoK) is expected to remain on hold at the monetary policy meeting scheduled to be held next week, with headline inflation making a gradual and slow rise. Also, consumer prices in the country are expected to reach the central bank’s target band in the next year.
The BoK will likely leave its 7-day repo rate unchanged at 1.25 percent on Thursday December 15, at 9:00 SGT. With headline inflation slowly rising, 2017 average inflation is expected to reach the BoK’s lower limit of its 1.5-2.5 percent target range, ANZ reported.
Also, the National Assembly has voted in favor of President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment today, adding political uncertainty in the economy, which shall aloof any such policy changes for the time being.
Meanwhile, China’s various activity indicators are likely to have been stable in November, while monetary indicators should be consistent with the government’s policy of gradual deleveraging.
