U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
Citi Forecasts a Volatile but Ongoing Bull Market for S&P 500 in 2026 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
South Korean Won Slides Despite Government Efforts to Stabilize Currency Markets 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
Oil Prices Stabilize at Start of 2026 as OPEC+ Policy and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Card spending in South Korea on Nov. 1 to 15 when the annual nationwide shopping festival FESTA was held amounted to 37.4 trillion won, rising 6.3 percent from a year earlier.
The shopping festival drew a total of 1,784 companies doubling from last year's participants.
During the festival, about 3,980 companies sold or promoted goods via 115 overseas online sales channels in 28 countries, boosting online exports of local goods.
Vice Trade Minister Park Jin-kyu noted that the festival helped boost domestic demand and revive the regional economies.
Auto sales reached 7,074 units on average per day, up 31.9 percent from last year, with eco-friendly types increasing sales by 155.7 percent.
Electronic goods recorded 660 billion won in sales during the said period, up 39.5 percent from the year before.
Department stores gained 5.4 percent on-year in sales, while those at traditional markets also increased 25.5 percent, boosted by the distribution of gift certificates.
