South Korean Won Slides Despite Government Efforts to Stabilize Currency Markets 
China Manufacturing PMI Rebounds in December, Offering Boost to Economic Growth Outlook 
USDA $12 Billion Farm Aid Program Draws Mixed Reactions from Row Crop Farmers 
Forex Markets Hold Steady as Traders Await Fed Minutes Amid Thin Year-End Volumes 
U.S. Stock Index Futures Steady as Markets Await Fed Policy Clues in Holiday-Thinned Trade 
South Korea Inflation Rises to 2.3% in December, Matching Market Expectations 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
South Korea Factory Activity Returns to Growth in December on Export Rebound 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
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 
Oil Prices Slide in 2025 as Oversupply and Geopolitical Risks Shape Market Outlook 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
Oil Prices Slip Slightly as Markets Weigh Geopolitical Risks and Supply Glut Concerns 
China Imposes 55% Tariff on Beef Imports Above Quota to Protect Domestic Industry 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed 0.80 percent lower at 1,924.96 on Thursday due to a grim forecast for global economic recovery amid the pandemic.
On top of that, there were also concerns over renewed trade tensions between the United States and China.
Trading was at 744 million shares worth 9.3 trillion won, with losers outnumbering gainers 638 to 229.
The bleak outlook for a slow economic recovery came from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, which Kiwoom Securities analyst criticized as "not helpful" as it may result in more foreign sell-offs.
While foreigners sold 552 billion won and institutions dumped238 billion won worth of local stocks, individuals acquired 785 billion won worth on the Seoul bourse.
Shares of Samsung Electronics went down 1.13 percent to 48,000 won as chipmaker SK Hynix plunged 3.59 percent to 80,600 won.
Automaker Hyundai Motor Group tumbled by 0.86 percent to 2,300 won, as auto parts manufacturer Hyundai Mobis dipped 0.59 percent to 169,500 won.
Meanwhile, LG Chem sank 2.13 percent to 344,500 won, while steelmaker POSCO plummeted 2.89 percent to 168,000 won.
Among the winners were pharmaceutical giant Celltrion, which surged 0.93 percent to 217,000 won, and mobile messenger app operator Kakao, which rose 3.93 percent to 225,000 won.
