Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
U.S. Dollar Slides Toward Biggest Annual Loss Since 2017 as 2026 Risks Loom 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
South Korean Won Slides Despite Government Efforts to Stabilize Currency Markets 
Japanese Business Leaders Urge Government Action as Weak Yen Strains Economy 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
U.S. Dollar Starts 2026 Weak as Yen, Euro and Sterling Hold Firm Amid Rate Cut Expectations 
Singapore GDP Growth Surges in 2025 but Outlook Remains Cautious Amid Global Trade Risks 
South Korea will tighten some rules on home lease contracts to stabilize "jeonse" deals, as more homeowners prefer to receive monthly rental fees.
Currently, a homeowner gets four percent of a jeonse contract as monthly rental fees if the tenant seeks to convert the jeonse into a monthly rental deal.
According to Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, the South Korean government will lower the ratio to 2.5 percent to encourage homeowners to keep their jeonse contracts.
Last month, the government announced it would further rein in soaring housing prices, as other steps such as tax hikes and loan regulations failed to provide a remedy.
The government would supply 132,000 homes, including 110,000 homes in Seoul and neighboring areas, by 2028 by easing restrictions on residential building construction.
The eased rules allow redevelopment projects of aging apartment complexes to increase their floor area ratio to between 300 and 500 from the current 250 percent and build 50-story apartment buildings in the greater Seoul area, from the current 35-story height restriction.
